Spontaneous oscillations of capillary blood flow in artificial microvascular networks

► We studied the flow of blood in capillaries of an artificial microvascular network. ► Spontaneous, self-sustained oscillations of capillary blood flow were observed. ► Oscillations originated entirely from non-linear rheological properties of blood. ► The traffic of leukocytes played an important role in generating flow oscillations. ► First experimental confirmation of capillary oscillations without regulatory input.