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Published on: February 23, 2012
Mechanical events within the arterial wall: The dynamic context for elastin fatigue
1Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Journal of Biomechanics
|April 24, 2009
Summary
Arterial stiffness, a cardiovascular disease risk factor, is linked to vessel wall changes. Loss of viscous content in the arterial wall may precede elastin fatigue and failure, contributing to aging and disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
- It is associated with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
- Altered dynamics of the vessel wall and fluid-wall interactions in pulsatile flow contribute to arterial stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analytically study longitudinal displacements and stresses within the arterial wall during pulsatile flow.
- To investigate the role of the fractional derivative model in describing arterial wall rheology.
- To understand how vessel wall tethering and mechanical properties influence these dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a comprehensive analytical approach to model pulsatile flow within the arterial wall.
- Employed the fractional derivative model to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of the arterial wall material.
- Analyzed longitudinal displacements and stresses at various time points in the cardiac cycle.
Main Results:
- Vessel wall displacement and shear stress are critically dependent on surrounding tissue tethering and the wall's viscous and elastic content.
- Reduced viscous consistency increases shear stress, potentially leading to elastin fatigue.
- As elastin fails, collagen may assume its load-bearing role, increasing arterial rigidity, consistent with aging.
Conclusions:
- Loss of viscous content in the arterial wall, due to disease or aging, may initiate elastin fatigue and failure.
- This process contributes to the development of arterial stiffness and associated cardiovascular risks.
- Understanding these mechanical changes is crucial for managing cardiovascular health.
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