Figure 5.

Figure 5.

Comparison of simulation data with empirical predictions by the phase separation model [51]. (a) Simulation data of fractional RBC flux Qrbc∗ against fractional blood flow Qblood∗ in the relatively larger child branch ‘L’ (blue squares) and smaller child branch ‘S’ (red circles) from all investigated bifurcations. The inset shows similar results as in figure 4b (characterizing the disproportionality index ΔQ∗=Qrbc∗−Qblood∗ against Qblood∗), but with additional information of relative vessel size for child branches in each bifurcation. The black dotted line represents a linear hypothesis for Qrbc∗ and Qblood∗ in the absence of plasma skimming. (b–e) Four exemplar bifurcations in which the simulation data (squares and circles) agree well with empirical predictions (solid lines) for both the ‘L’ and ‘S’ child branches.