Fig 1 -

(A-D) Left, four MAs with varying sizes are imaged using AOSLO multiply scattered light imaging modality. Red dotted curves signify the boundary of the MAs and their parent capillaries. (E) Microfluidic channels were fabricated in [54] in order to study the blood flow in MAs with different sizes. The size of the MA is characterized by the body-to-neck ratio (BNR), which is defined as the largest dimension of the MA body (R₁) divided by the diameter of the parent vessel (R₂). Figure is adopted from [54] with permission. (F)-(I) Four MA channels (left: front view, right: side view) with different BNRs (8, 5.4, 3 and 2.2) are devised to mimic blood vessels with MAs. The simulated blood consists of RBCs (red), platelets (white) and solvent particles (not shown for clarity). RBCs are initially placed inside the microchannel whereas the platelets are flowing in from the right inlet of the microchannels when simulations start (flow is from right to left). The hematocrit of 10%, 20% and 40% are examined in the simulations.