Swimming of spermatozoa in a linear viscoelastic fluid.
A modified resistive force theory is developed for a spermatozoon swimming in a general linear viscoelastic fluid. The theory is based on a Fourier decomposition of the flagellar velocity, which leads to solving the Stokes flow equations with a complex viscosity. We use a model spermatozoon with a spherical head which propagates small amplitude sinusoidal waves along its flagellum. Results are obtained for the velocity of propulsion and the rate of working for a free swimming spermatozoon and the thrust on a fixed spermatozoon. There is no change in propulsive velocity for a viscoelastic fluid compared to a Newtonian fluid. The rate of working does change however, decreasing with increasing elasticity of the fluid, for a Maxwell fluid. Thus the theory predicts that a spermatozoon can swim faster in a Maxwell fluid with the same expenditure of energy for a Newtonian fluid.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Viscosity
- Spermatozoa
- Sperm Motility
- Semen
- Models, Biological
- Male
- Humans
- Elasticity
- Biomedical Engineering
- Animals
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Viscosity
- Spermatozoa
- Sperm Motility
- Semen
- Models, Biological
- Male
- Humans
- Elasticity
- Biomedical Engineering
- Animals