Biorheology
Encyclopedia
Definition
Biorheological research determine and characterize the dynamics of physiological processes at all levels of organization. They include the scientific and technological studies in a broad field that ranges from the rheology of macromolecules and macromolecular arrays to cell, tissue and organ rheology. Interrelationships of rheological properties of the systems or materials investigated and their structural and functional aspects. The term "Biorheology", to apply to the rheology of living systems or materials directly derived from living systems, was first proposed by A.L.Copley at the first International Congress on Rheology.This biorheological approach applies in particular to molecular studies where changes of physical properties and conformation are investigated without reference to how the process actually takes place, how the forces generated are matched to the properties of the structures and environment concerned, proper time scales, or what structures or strength of structures are required.
Biorheology examines and fields of 'molecular biorheological' aspects, whether in animal or plant systems.The biorheology of disease is of equal interest with an emphasize the biorheology of physiological function in organs and systems. Biorheological analyses of pathological processes and their clinical implications include basic clinical research on hemodynamics and hemorheology.