Euler, Father of Hemodynamics

Abstract

In 1742, Euler presented an essay on the "Principles for determining the motion of the blood through arteries". This is the first known work on the mechanics of flows in elastic tubes, in which Euler applied his equations to analyze the flow of blood through arteries, driven by a piston pump simulating the heart. However, Euler did not recognize the wave nature of his equations, which led him to a dead end on trying to find a closed form solution. Nonetheless, it will be shown that the hemodynamic equations developed by Euler about 275 years ago, still undergird the most advanced numerical methods in use today for blood flow analysis in arterial networks. Therefore, Euler's pioneering and seminal work in the area of blood flow justifies he be called the father of hemodynamics.