Rheological properties of healthy and atherosclerotic human arteries.

The aim of this study was to determine the comparative three-dimensional mechanical properties of healthy and atherosclerotic muscular human arteries. Using a previously developed experimental system, in vitro inflation tests were per- formed on twelve segments of arteries, in static conditions. Two different initial states were used to carry the mechanical study through (large deformation, thick-walled). Main significant differences between healthy and atherosclerotic tested segments are observed for axial traction force whatever the initial state and radial and circumferencial strains referenced to longitudinally pre-stretched state. We showed that strain energy allows to differentiate between both types of arteries only when absolute values of transversal components were considered. Differential values of energy were not discriminating. Our results also show the potential interest of studying arteries in vivo at low transmural pressure.