We used computational fluid dynamics to examine arterial haemodynamics in pre‑clinical models and identify regions susceptible to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Anatomically realistic vascular geometries and pulsatile boundary conditions resolved wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index and exposure to low shear, reported over multiple cardiac cycles to improve stability. Sensitivity checks on viscosity models and inflow profiles tested the robustness of relative patterns. Outputs included maps and statistics highlighting persistently low or oscillatory shear regions and their spatial extent, enabling direct comparison with imaging or histology. The results provide a physics‑based rationale for selecting sites for further investigation and for evaluating the influence of anatomical variations or interventions, and the workflow is reproducible and extendable to additional models or imaging datasets to support Manchester Royal Infirmary’s translational research goals.