Elsevier

Journal of Biomechanics

Volume 13, Issue 2, 1980, Pages 175-179, 181-184
Journal of Biomechanics

Stiffness and elastic behavior of human intracranial and extracranial arteries

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(80)90191-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Human arterial walls obtained from intracranial and extracranial sites were studied with regard to the change in stiffness, elastic modulus, dimension and microstructure with age. The stiffness parameter calculated directly from the relationship between transmural pressure and wall diameter was proposed to express the stiffness of a vascular wall comprehensively. On the other hand, the incremental elastic modulus was utilized as a parameter which represents the intrinsic elastic properties of wall material itself. It was found that the intracranial arteries below middle age are significantly stiff, and have higher incremental elastic moduli and wall stresses compared with the extracranial arteries. The elastic properties as well as wall dimensions of intracranial and extracranial arteries showed different trends with age. These mechanical and morphological features of intracranial arteries were considered to be important factors which contribute to the initiation and development of some cerebro-vascular diseases.

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    Present address: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565, Japan.

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