A non-uniform three-dimensional perfusion model of rat tail heat transfer.

Previous models of rat tail heat transfer have assumed that the tail is uniformly perfused along its length and have introduced questionable assumptions about the heat transfer role of the major axial arteries and the venous blood shunting between the superficial and deep veins. The recent experiments of Lemons and Wu have shown that (i) perfusion of the tail tip is more than tenfold higher than that in the tail base and (ii) the perfusion of the middle region of the tail increases eightfold during heat stress compared to threefold to fourfold in the base and tip. Our anatomical studies have shown that the lateral arteries are a series of radially arcading connections from the ventral artery and probably do not serve as major axial conduit vessels. These observations indicate that current views and models for the blood flow distribution and heat transfer in the major axial arteries and veins and in the rat tail cutaneous circulation need substantial revision. Based on these new experimental findings a new three-dimensional model is developed to determine the heat transfer function of the rat tail at different local and central temperatures. The predictions of the model show good agreement with the axial surface temperature distribution in the rat tail reported by Lemons and Wu. These results, when combined with our anatomical studies, indicate that there is very little shunting of blood between the superficial lateral veins and the deep ventral vein as proposed by Raman et al. Although this model is based on the rat tail anatomy, it can be modified to treat the human limb and digit.