Given: Capillaries are where the magic of gas diffusion happens. Capillaries are approximately 5-10 µm in diameter.  Let’s pick an average value of 7.5 µm. A normal value of the diameter of an aortic artery is 15 mm. a. How many capillaries would it take to have the same cross-sectional area as a single aortic artery? b. Assuming constant fluid flow through a single aortic artery and a capillary network with the same cross-sectional area, how will the resistance to flow compare to both?  (Answer a and b)

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Given: Capillaries are where the magic of gas diffusion happens. Capillaries are approximately 5-10 µm in diameter.  Let’s pick an average value of 7.5 µm. A normal value of the diameter of an aortic artery is 15 mm.

a. How many capillaries would it take to have the same cross-sectional area as a single aortic artery?

b. Assuming constant fluid flow through a single aortic artery and a capillary network with the same cross-sectional area, how will the resistance to flow compare to both? 

(Answer a and b) 
 

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