Length–force and volume–pressure relationships of arteries 1 2 3

Abstract

A technique was developed for the measurement on arterial segments of:

• 1.

Force-length diagrams at different constant internal pressures.

2.

Volume-pressure diagrams at different constant lengths of the segments.

Empirical formulas, which contain a minimal number of constants and which describe the measured curves with high values for the coefficient of determination, were constructed. The formulas are to be used for the construction of a strain energy function. They were tested on 20 arteries; the constants, appearing in the empirical formulas, are given. The results indicate that in an artery in vivo, neither length nor longitudinal force undergoes obligatory change because of pressure fluctuations. Consequently, the generally accepted hypothesis that large tethering forces are required to prevent the artery from moving longitudinally as a result of the passing arterial pulse wave does not appear necessary.