The purpose of this study was to examine the theoretical impact of the local bifurcation geometry on the shear rate gradient in a divergent arteriolar-type bifurcation. Newtonian flow through an arteriolar bifurcation was modeled using 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Branching angles of 30 degrees, 50 degrees, 70 degrees, 90 degrees, 110 degrees, 130 degrees, and 150 degrees were studied at a Reynolds number (Re) of 0.01 in seven separate models. Both the flow split (30%) and the branch to main vessel diameter ratio (4/5) were held constant. Velocity profiles were predicted to deviate significantly from a parabolic form, both immediately before and after the branch. This deviation was shown to be a function of the local bifurcation geometry of each model, which consisted of a branching angle and associated feed-branch intersection shape. Immediately before and after the branch, the shear rate along the lateral branching wall was predicted to exceed (5-fold) that calculated for fully developed flow in the feed. In vivo data were from the anesthetized (pentobarbital, 70 mg/kg) hamster cremaster muscle preparation. Red blood cells were used as flow markers in arteriolar branch points (n = 74) show that a significant gradient in shear rate occurs at the locations and branch shapes predicted by the computational model. Thus, for low Re divergent flow, the gradient in shear rate measured for non-Newtonian conditions, is approximated by a finite element fluid dynamics model of Newtonian flow.