Model for Collagen Fibres in Rabbit Facial Veins
Author Information
Author(s): Agianniotis Aristotelis, Rezakhaniha Rana, Stergiopulos Nikos
Primary Institution: Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Hypothesis
Can a structural model for vascular walls incorporate both waviness and angular dispersion of collagen fibres?
Conclusion
The model provides insights into the relationship between collagen structure and function in vascular walls and can aid in studying collagen remodelling.
Supporting Evidence
- The model accurately fitted the experimental data of veins.
- The model is less sensitive to orientational dispersion when fibres are mainly oriented circumferentially.
- Including dispersion in the model did not significantly improve the quality of the fit compared to the original model.
Takeaway
This study created a model to understand how collagen fibres in blood vessels are arranged and how that affects their behavior when stretched.
Methodology
The study involved developing a strain energy function and applying it to experimental data from inflation-extension tests on rabbit facial veins.
Limitations
The model assumes homogenized properties throughout the vascular wall and may not accurately represent multi-layered structures.
Participant Demographics
Young rabbits were used for the study.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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