Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
04:30
A Photopolymerizable Hyaluronic Acid-Collagen Model of the Invasive Glioma Microenvironment with Interstitial Flow
Published on: October 18, 2024
Is ICP solid or fluid? In vitro biomechanical model using a fluid-saturated gel.
Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplement
|February 14, 2012
Summary
Intracranial pressure (ICP) is not just hydrostatic. This study shows ICP comprises both fluid pressure and solid stress, using a brain tissue model.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Materials Science
Background:
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) is traditionally viewed as hydrostatic.
- Brain tissue exhibits heterogeneous pressure, suggesting a solid pressure component.
- Brain tissue is a biphasic material with distinct solid and fluid phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biphasic nature of intracranial pressure.
- To differentiate between fluid and solid pressure components within brain tissue.
- To propose a new model for understanding intracranial pressure.
Main Methods:
- A 0.5% agar gel model was used to simulate brain tissue.
- Quasi-static compression was applied using a tensile testing machine.
- Two microsensors measured pressure: one for total pressure (A) and one for fluid pressure (B).
Main Results:
- Sensor A accurately measured applied pressure, reflecting total pressure (fluid + solid).
- Sensor B consistently underestimated pressure, indicating it measured primarily fluid pressure.
- The difference between sensors A and B quantified the solid stress component.
Conclusions:
- Intracranial pressure is a composite of fluid pressure and solid stress.
- The biphasic model provides a more accurate understanding of ICP.
- Future research should consider both fluid and solid components in ICP studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Composition of Body Fluids
Water functions as a solvent accommodating various solutes, which can be categorized under electrolytes and non-electrolytes. Non-electrolytes are usually held together by covalent bonds, restricting them from dissociating in solution, thereby leading to a lack of electrically charged components upon dissolving in water. They are predominantly organic molecules, such as glucose, creatinine, and urea. Electrolytes, on the other hand, are compounds that can break down into ions in water.
01:34The Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.