Volume elasticity,modulus of elasticity and compliance of normal and arteriosclerotic human aorta

Abstract

In order to measure the flow-dynamical effect of arteriosclerotic changes of the vessel wall we determined volume elasticity E′ and modulus of elasticity ϰ of 53 human aortae in a static p-V-test as other authors did, too. The p-V-curves are normalized to the aortic basic volume V₀, so that we could determine the haemodynamic effect of arteriosclerosis immediately from E′ and ϰ.

Diameter, length, and, accordingly, the basic volume of the aorta without prestressing increase significantly in aortae with severe arteriosclerosis in comparison to those without sclerosis. The volume elasticity E′ as a function of the static aortic pressure has a minimum within physiological pressure range and changes into a linear function when arteriosclerosis increases. The modulus of elasticity of a normal aorta remains constant within a pressure range of 20 to 100 mm Hg and it shows a linear increase at higher pressure. The differences between V₀, E′ and ϰ of aortae with and without severe arteriosclerosis, however, are highly significant.