Key result
In vitro biaxial stress-strain experiments on canine hearts revealed that ventricular epicardium exhibits highly nonlinear stress-stretch behavior, becoming markedly anisotropic upon rapid stiffening.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Excised ventricular epicardium exhibits highly nonlinear stress-stretch behavior and is capable of carrying significant in-plane loads, suggesting a role in cardiac mechanics.
We present results from in vitro biaxial stress-strain experiments on epicardium excised from the right and left ventricular free walls of canine hearts. These data reveal that the biomechanical behavior of ventricular epicardium is qualitatively similar to atrial epicardium and parietal pericardium but different from noncontracting myocardium. In particular, ventricular epicardium exhibits a highly nonlinear stress-stretch behavior, being initially compliant but then very stiff near the limits of its extensibility. In addition, the epicardium appears to be initially isotropic but becomes markedly anisotropic upon rapid stiffening. Finally, specimens taken from the right and left ventricular free walls behaved similarly. We submit that excised ventricular epicardium is capable of carrying significant in-plane loads and that there is a need to investigate further its role in local and global cardiac mechanics and physiology.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Humphrey et al. (1990) studied this question. In vitro biaxial stress-strain experiments was evaluated on Biomechanical behavior (stress-stretch). In vitro biaxial stress-strain experiments on canine hearts revealed that ventricular epicardium exhibits highly nonlinear stress-stretch behavior, becoming markedly anisotropic upon rapid stiffening.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: