Once blood circulation is established during the earliest stages of hematopoiesis, the pulsatile nature of blood flow within the aorta generates a range of biomechanical forces, such as fluid shear stress, hydrodynamic pressure, and circumferential stress. A number of studies have shown that the hemodynamic environment within the blood vessels has a direct influence on the structural and functional characteristics of the endothelial cells lining the inner walls of the vascular tissue. Read more..