It is well-documented that the geometrical dimensions, the longitudinal stretch ratio in situ, certain structural mechanical descriptors such as compliance and pressure-diameter moduli, as well as the mass fractions of structural constituents, vary along the length of the descending aorta. The origins of and possible interrelations among these observed variations remain open questions. The central premise of this study is that having considered the variation of the deformed inner diameter, axial stretch ratio, and area compliance along the aorta to be governed by the systemic requirements for flow distribution and reduction of cardiac preload, the zero-stress state geometry and mass fractions of the basic structural constituents of aortic tissue meet a principle of optimal mechanical operation. The principle manifests as a uniform distribution of the circumferential stress in the aortic wall that ensures effective bearing of the physiological load and a favorable mechanical environment for mechanosensitive vascular smooth muscle cells. A mathematical model is proposed and inverse boundary value problems are solved for the equations that follow from finite elasticity, structure-based constitutive modeling within constrained mixture theory, and stress-induced control of aortic homeostasis, mediated by the synthetic activity of vascular smooth muscle cells. Published experimental data are used to illustrate the predictive power of the proposed model. The results obtained are in agreement with published experimental data and support the proposed principle of optimal mechanical operation for the descending aorta.
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August 2013
Research-Article
Are Geometrical and Structural Variations Along the Length of the Aorta Governed by a Principle of “Optimal Mechanical Operation”?
Alexander Rachev,
Alexander Rachev
Biomedical Engineering Program,
College of Engineering and Computing,
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
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Stephen Greenwald,
Stephen Greenwald
Pathology Group,
Blizard Institute,
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Blizard Institute,
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Queen Mary University of London
,London E1 2ES
, UK
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Tarek Shazly
Tarek Shazly
Biomedical Engineering Program,
College of Engineering and Computing,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
College of Engineering and Computing,
Columbia, SC 29208
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
;Mechanical Engineering Department,
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
Search for other works by this author on:
Alexander Rachev
Biomedical Engineering Program,
College of Engineering and Computing,
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
Stephen Greenwald
Pathology Group,
Blizard Institute,
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Blizard Institute,
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry,
Queen Mary University of London
,London E1 2ES
, UK
Tarek Shazly
Biomedical Engineering Program,
College of Engineering and Computing,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
College of Engineering and Computing,
Columbia, SC 29208
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
;Mechanical Engineering Department,
College of Engineering and Computing,
University of South Carolina
,Columbia, SC 29208
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING. Manuscript received October 18, 2012; final manuscript received May 21, 2013; accepted manuscript posted May 29, 2013; published online June 12, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Hai-Chao Han.
J Biomech Eng. Aug 2013, 135(8): 081006 (9 pages)
Published Online: June 12, 2013
Article history
Received:
October 18, 2012
Revision Received:
May 21, 2013
Accepted:
May 29, 2013
Citation
Rachev, A., Greenwald, S., and Shazly, T. (June 12, 2013). "Are Geometrical and Structural Variations Along the Length of the Aorta Governed by a Principle of “Optimal Mechanical Operation”?." ASME. J Biomech Eng. August 2013; 135(8): 081006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024664
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