Arteries can be considered as layered composite material. Experimental data on the stiffness of human atherosclerotic carotid arteries and their media and adventitia layers are very limited. This study used uniaxial tests to determine the stiffness (tangent modulus) of human carotid artery sections containing American Heart Association type II and III lesions. Axial and circumferential oriented adventitia, media, and full thickness specimens were prepared from six human carotid arteries (total tissue strips: 71). Each artery yielded 12 specimens with two specimens in each of the following six categories; axial full thickness, axial adventitia (AA), axial media (AM), circumferential full thickness, circumferential adventitia (CA), and circumferential media (CM). Uniaxial testing was performed using Inspec 2200 controlled by software developed using labview. The mean stiffness of the adventitia was 3570 ± 667 and 2960 ± 331 kPa in the axial and circumferential directions, respectively, while the corresponding values for the media were 1070 ± 186 and 1800 ± 384 kPa. The adventitia was significantly stiffer than the media in both the axial (p = 0.003) and circumferential (p = 0.010) directions. The stiffness of the full thickness specimens was nearly identical in the axial (1540 ± 186) and circumferential (1530 ± 389 kPa) directions. The differences in axial and circumferential stiffness of media and adventitia were not statistically significant.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
December 2017
Technical Briefs
Stiffness Properties of Adventitia, Media, and Full Thickness Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries in the Axial and Circumferential Directions
Allen H. Hoffman,
Allen H. Hoffman
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Search for other works by this author on:
Zhongzhao Teng,
Zhongzhao Teng
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609;
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609;
Department of Radiology,
University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Jie Zheng,
Jie Zheng
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Search for other works by this author on:
Zheyang Wu,
Zheyang Wu
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Search for other works by this author on:
Pamela K. Woodard,
Pamela K. Woodard
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Search for other works by this author on:
Kristen L. Billiar,
Kristen L. Billiar
Biomedical Engineering Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Search for other works by this author on:
Liang Wang,
Liang Wang
School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Dalin Tang
Dalin Tang
School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China;
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China;
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
e-mail: dtang@wpi.edu
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
e-mail: dtang@wpi.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Allen H. Hoffman
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Zhongzhao Teng
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609;
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609;
Department of Radiology,
University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
University of Cambridge,
Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
Jie Zheng
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Zheyang Wu
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Pamela K. Woodard
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Washington University,
St. Louis, MO 63110
Kristen L. Billiar
Biomedical Engineering Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
Liang Wang
School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China
Dalin Tang
School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering,
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China;
Southeast University,
Nanjing 210096, China;
Mathematical Sciences Department,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
e-mail: dtang@wpi.edu
Worcester Polytechnic Institute,
Worcester, MA 01609
e-mail: dtang@wpi.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received April 19, 2017; final manuscript received August 13, 2017; published online September 28, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Guy M. Genin.
J Biomech Eng. Dec 2017, 139(12): 124501 (6 pages)
Published Online: September 28, 2017
Article history
Received:
April 19, 2017
Revised:
August 13, 2017
Citation
Hoffman, A. H., Teng, Z., Zheng, J., Wu, Z., Woodard, P. K., Billiar, K. L., Wang, L., and Tang, D. (September 28, 2017). "Stiffness Properties of Adventitia, Media, and Full Thickness Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries in the Axial and Circumferential Directions." ASME. J Biomech Eng. December 2017; 139(12): 124501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037794
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Related Articles
Reduced Smooth Muscle Contractile Capacity Facilitates Maladaptive Arterial Remodeling
J Biomech Eng (April,2022)
Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of Tissue Components in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques
J Biomech Eng (October,2004)
Using In Vivo Cine and 3D Multi-Contrast MRI to Determine Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Material Properties and Circumferential Shrinkage Rate and Their Impact on Stress/Strain Predictions
J Biomech Eng (January,2012)
Effects of Increased Arterial Stiffness on Atherosclerotic Plaque Amounts
J Biomech Eng (May,2018)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Introduction
Ultrasonic Methods for Measurement of Small Motion and Deformation of Biological Tissues for Assessment of Viscoelasticity
Approximate Analysis of Plates
Design of Plate and Shell Structures
Improved Algorithm of Strip Mill Load Distribution Based on the Targeted Proportion
International Conference on Computer and Computer Intelligence (ICCCI 2011)