Definition of boundary conditions is a crucial step in three-dimensional (3-D) hemodynamic computation. An improper treatment of boundary conditions may result in misleading predictions no matter how precisely the geometric model has been constructed. In consideration of the fact that any arterial segment belongs to the cardiovascular system, a reasonable means of getting rid of difficulties in boundary condition definition is to place a 3-D hemodynamic model into a model which represents a broader cardiovascular area. In this study, we develop a multi-scale model by coupling models of dimensional levels. The model integrates 3-D flows, arterial wave propagation and global hemodynamics into a unique computational system. Benchmark tests demonstrate that the model is able to reasonably describe hemodynamic phenomena in various physiological conditions.
