Law of Laplace (Pressure)

The Law of Laplace (Press) calculator computes the pressure (P) on the membrane wall of based on the wall stress (H), radius of the chamber (r) and the vascular wall thickness (T).

INSTRUCTIONS:  Choose your preferred units and enter the following:

• (H) stress
• (r) radius of chamber
• (T) wall thickness

Pressure:  The pressure (P) is computed in Milli-pascals (mPa).  However this can be automatically converted to other pressure units via the pull-down menu. 

Heart / Blood Calculators:

• Compute the Heart Chamber Pressure via the Law of Laplace
• Compute the Heart Wall Stress via the Law of Laplace
• Compute the Blood Flow Rate using Darcy's Law
• Compute the Change in Vascular Pressure
• Compute Blood Pressure
• Compute the Blood Volume in a Human based on their weight

The Math/Science

The Pressure Law of Laplace formula,  P= (2⋅H⋅T)/r is based on Laplace's Law (physics) and is applied in the physiology of blood flow. Under equilibrium conditions the wall stress on a  heart chamber containing a fluid is proportional to the pressure in the chamber and the radius of the chamber for a spherical approximation. This law is called either Laplace's Law or the Law of Laplace.

Laplace's Law is a law of physics that  is applied in the physiology of blood flow. Under equilibrium conditions the pressure on a  vessel containing a fluid is proportional to the wall stress and inversely proportional to the radius of the vessel for a sphere and the pressure is half of this for a tube. This law is called either Laplace's Law or the Law of Laplace.

For a given pressure, increased radius requires increased wall thickness to accommodate a stable wall stress; also, increased pressure requires increased thickness to maintain a stable wall stress. The latter is used to explain thickening of arteries and thickening of the left ventricle to accommodate high blood pressure. However, the thickened left ventricle is stiffer when the thickness is normal, so it requires elevated pressures to fill, a condition known as diastolic heart failure.

Using the physiological application of the Law of LaPlace we can examine the course of systolic heart failure.  As the systolic heart failure continues, the end-diastolic volume of the heart might increase. With volume increase the radius increases and the Law of Laplace equation then tells us the pressure generated decreases. This makes the heart problem worse, as the failing ventricle has to work harder to keep up the blood pressure. The dilated ventricle requires more wall stress in the wall to generate the same pressure.

The wall stress, here the left ventricle's wall stress, is produced by the force acting against the myocardial cells. 

This wall stress is directly proportional to left ventricle's pressure and radius.  This simple relationship helps us understand what conditions can affect oxygen flow and which therapies can relieve angina.  The following are some of the ways the pressure/radius/wall thickness/wall stress relationships help identify cause and treatment:

• Left ventricular pressure increases with symptoms of increased “afterload” of the heart, including systemic hypertension and aortic valve stenosis.
• In heart valve disorders or cardiomyopathies, the left ventricle's radius increases  causing systolic heart failure.
• Left ventricular wall thickness increases to compensate for increased wall stress, when a patient encounters chronic hypertension or aortic valve stenosis.
• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)  increases wall thickness. After myocardial infarction, the wall thins which increases wall stress.
• The treatment of stable angina is typically involves reducing wall stress and decreasing myocardial oxygen demand.

Note: in physics stress is defines as the force applied across a unit area.  Stress describes the force one part of a body applies to adjacent parts.