Modelling feto-placental arterial hemodynamics and wave reflection.

The pulsation of blood in the umbilical artery and the feto-placental circulation has been a focus for computational modelling because of the important association between the patterns of pulsation and placental pathology. This review examines different approaches that have been used to study this relationship and the insights that can be drawn from these computational models. Wave reflection in the umbilical artery is presented both to aid in the interpretation of these patterns and as an example of how modelling approaches can be used to unify disparate hemodynamic measurements. The linkage between modelling and measurement methodologies is examined along with the considerations for model selection when approaching a new research question.