Works pertinent to arterial transport models are analyzed and a critical assessment of the models utilized in the study of fluid flow and mass transfer within the arteries is presented with an emphasis on the role of porous media. Arterial transport models are assessed and classified based on their ability to physically prescribe the arterial anatomy as well as the related transport processes. Pertinent models such as wall-free, homogeneous-wall, and multi-layer models as well as the governing equations and different types of boundary conditions utilized in each model are analyzed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.