The Optimal Form of Distribution Networks Applied to the Kidney and Lung

Abstract

A model is proposed to minimize the total volume of the main distribution networks of fluids in relation to the organ form. The minimization analysis shows that the overall exterior form of distribution networks is a modified ellipsoid, a geometric form that is a good approximation to the external anatomy of the kidney and lung. The variational procedure implementing this minimization is similar to the traditional isoperimetric theorems of geometry. A revised version of this preprint that expands Section 4 will be published in the Journal of Biological Systems, World Scientific Publishing.