1 Introduction

This chapter is intended to be of an introductory nature to the vast field of biofluid mechanics. Here, we shall consider the ideas and principles of the preceding chapters in the context of fluid motion in biological systems. First we will learn about some aspects of the fluid motion in the human body, and later we will learn about some aspects of fluid mechanics of plants.

The human body is a complex system that requires materials such as air, water, minerals and nutrients for survival and function. Upon intake, these materials have to be transported and distributed around the body as required. The associated biotransport and distribution processes involve interactions with membranes, cells, tissues, and organs comprising the body. Subsequent to cellular metabolism in the tissues, waste by products have to be transported to the excretory organs for synthesis and removal. In addition to these functions, biotransport systems and processes are required for homeostasis (physiological regulation for example, maintenance of pH and of body temperature), and for enabling the movement of immune substances to aid in body's defense and recovery from infection and injury. Furthermore, in certain other special-ized systems such as the cochlea in the ear, fluid transport enables hearing and motion sensing. Evidently, in the human body, there are multiple types of fluid dynamic systems that operate at multiple and widely disparate scales. These scales are at various levels such as macro, micro, nano, pico and so on. Systems at the micro and macro levels, for example,...