The transmural distribution of coronary blood flow during maximal vasodilation.

Experiments were performed to examine the transmural distribution of the coronary blood flow during maximal vasodilation and when intramyocardial pressures were either minimized (cardiac arrest) or maximized (tachycardia). The results reveal a gradient of vascular resistance across the ventricular wall that favors flow to the subendocardium in the presence of maximal vasodilation. Thus a flow gradient favoring the subendocardium was seen when intramyocardial pressures were minimized by cardiac arrest, but when tissue pressures were maximized through tachycardia this gradient of flow was reversed.