Laser Doppler spectroscopy and its applications in biology

The principle of the laser Doppler velocimeter is described. Some features of the application of the laser velocimeter to hydrodynamic flows inside living organisms are discussed. A review is given of investigations concerned with the application of this technique in biology, in particular, to study blood flow in blood vessels, and to measure flow characteristics inside algae cells and in Myxomycetes plasmodial strands.