Unsteady cell distributions in capillary networks.

A numerical simulation is used to study the distribution and flux of red blood cells in capillary networks. The relationship between the motion of an individual cell in a single capillary and the overall transport of cells throughout a network is investigated.Interpretation of results is greatly facilitated by the use of a computer graphics representation of the simulation. Steady-state and certain time-dependent cell distribution problems are studied, with a special focus on the sensitivity of the results to the presence of a small number of white cells.