Comparison of Systemic and Coronary Hemodynamics in the Normal Human Male and Female

Abstract

Coronary and systemic hemodynamies were compared in 15 normal men and 15 normal women. Systemic hemodynamics were very similar. The women had 26.5 per cent greater coronary flow and 19.6 per cent more oxygen consumption/100 Gm. of left ventricular myocardium. Their calculated coronary vascular resistance was 35 per cent less. Significant negative correlations between coronary flow and calculated heart weight, and between cardiac oxygen consumption and calculated heart weight, as well as between coronary flow and hematocrit probably explain the differences in part. Whether hormonal or anatomic differences are also significant is not known.

The Relation of Metabolic Rate to Body Weight and Organ Size

“…The best figures vary between 3.5-4.8 ml/100 g/min or 350 cal/kg/day [6]. For the heart, oxygen consumption in normal man is 8.6 cal/100 g left ventricle/min or 600 cal/kg/day [39]. For comparison, the BMR of the whole body is 25 cal/kg/day in adults and 56 cal/kg/day in infants.…”