The branching structure of the mammalian arterial tree has been known to be close to that of
an optimal conduit system of the minimum work model characterized as the branch system
of constant wall shear rate. The physiological mechanism producing such construction was
considered to be based on the local response of arterial caliber induced by the wall shear
stress (shear rate× blood viscosity) and thereby maintaining this stress constant, which was
previously observed at the canine common carotid artery shunted to the external jugular …