[Mechanical properties of the human basilar artery]

The mechanical properties of the wall of human basilar artery have been determined by tension tests. The degree of orientation of collagen fibers inside the deformed arterial wall has been evaluated by the analysis of the mechanical results and by the X-ray diffraction pattern. The results show that the wall of the muscular arteries can be considered a "composite material" which mechanical properties, at high stress, are due mainly to the collagen fibers orientation.