Erythrocyte Aggregation as a Determinant of Blood Flow: Effect of pH, Temperature and Osmotic Pressure

Oxygen transport to tissues depends on (i) the oxygen transporting capacity of blood (mainly the hemoglobin content and the functional properties of hemoglobin regulated by various factors such as H+, CO2, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and temperature) and (ii) the blood flow to tissue. Blood viscosity is one of the important factors affecting blood flow, and is influenced by erythrocyte deformation in the high shear regions and erythrocyte aggregation in the low shear regions (Chien, 1975).