Comparison of morphometric, structural, mechanical, and physiologic characteristics of human superficial femoral and popliteal arteries

Abstract

Peripheral arterial disease differentially affects the superficial femoral (SFA) and the popliteal (PA) arteries, but their morphometric, structural, mechanical, and physiologic differences are poorly understood. SFAs and PAs from 125 human subjects (age 13-92, average 52±17 years) were compared in terms of radii, wall thickness, and opening angles. Structure and vascular disease were quantified using histology, mechanical properties were determined with planar biaxial extension, and constitutive modeling was used to calculate the physiologic stress-stretch state, elastic energy, and the circumferential physiologic stiffness. SFAs had larger radii than PAs, and both segments widened with age. Read more...

Keywords : superficial femoral artery; Popliteal artery; Mechanical properties; Constitutive modeling; Aging; Regional differences

Authors : Majid Jadidi; Sayed Ahmadreza Razian; Eric Anttila; Tyler Doan; Josiah Adamson; Margarita Pipinos; Alexey Kamenskiy