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Mechanics of Growth and Remodeling of the Aorta
Author(s) -
Alford Patrick William,
Taber Larry A
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a827-b
Subject(s) - residual stress , elastin , contractility , aorta , smooth muscle , radius , materials science , mechanics , anatomy , biomedical engineering , composite material , cardiology , medicine , physics , pathology , biology , computer science , computer security
We have developed a mathematical model for growth and remodeling of arteries. The model is a thick‐walled tube composed of a constrained mixture of smooth muscle cells, elastin and collagen. Material properties are prescribed according to previously published data. Radial and axial distributions of each constituent are determined via histological staining. The analysis includes stress‐dependent growth and contractility of the muscle and turnover of collagen fibers. Simulations were conducted for homeostatic conditions and for the temporal response following sudden hypertension. Numerical pressure‐radius relations and opening angles (residual stress) show reasonable agreement with published experimental results. In particular, for realistic material and structural properties, the model predicts measured variations in opening angles along the length of the aorta with reasonable accuracy. These results provide a better understanding of the determinants of residual stress in arteries and could lend insight into the importance of constituent distributions in both natural and tissue‐engineered blood vessels.