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Mechanical and structural changes in human thoracic aortas with age.

Majid Jadidi1, Mahmoud Habibnezhad2, Eric Anttila1

  • 1Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States.

Acta Biomaterialia
|December 27, 2019
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Summary

Human thoracic aortas stiffen and lose elasticity with age, impacting their mechanical and structural integrity. This study quantifies age-related changes in aortic mechanics and physiology to improve understanding of aortic diseases and repair device design.

Keywords:
AgingElastinHumanMechanical propertiesMechanical stressPhysiologic stateStructural characteristicsThoracic aorta

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Aging Biology

Background:

  • Aortic mechanical and structural characteristics significantly influence cardiovascular pathophysiology.
  • Physiologic stress-stretch states and intramural changes in human aortas due to aging are not well understood.
  • In vivo assessment of aortic properties is challenging due to residual stresses and pre-stretch.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize age-related mechanical and structural changes in the human descending thoracic aorta (TA).
  • To calculate the physiologic stress-stretch state using experimental data and constitutive modeling.
  • To relate intramural characteristics to aortic morphometry and mechanics across different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanical properties of 76 human descending thoracic aortas (ages 13-78) were measured using multi-ratio planar biaxial extension.
  • Constitutive parameters were derived for 7 age groups to calculate the physiologic stress-stretch state.
  • Intramural characteristics were quantified via histological analysis and correlated with morphometric and mechanical data.

Main Results:

  • Aortic stiffness increased with age, with aortas becoming more nonlinear and anisotropic.
  • Systolic and diastolic elastic energy decreased significantly with age.
  • Circumferential stretch, systolic/diastolic stresses, and elastin density decreased with age, while wall thickness and radii increased.

Conclusions:

  • Characterizing age-related changes in human aorta mechanics, physiology, and structure is crucial for understanding aortic pathology.
  • The findings provide material parameters for constitutive models, aiding in the development of relevant animal models for aging.
  • This data assists in designing improved devices for open and endovascular aortic repair procedures.