Regional hematocrit changes related to blood flow conditions in the arterial bed.

Present study was aimed at specifying both the anatomical and physiological factors determining the regional hematocrit alterations. These latter were investigated in blood samples from specific vascular branches of rabbits, as well as from the skin and the jugular veins (reflecting the cerebral microcirculation) of humans. Principal findings were as follows: (1) Blood in the heart left ventricle has a higher hematocrit than blood flowing in the hind legs.