A constituent-based model of age-related changes in conduit arteries

Tsamis A, Rachev A, Stergiopulos N. A constituent-based model of age-related changes in conduit arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 301: H1286-H1301, 2011. First published July 1, 2011; doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00570.2010.-In the present report, a constituent-based theoretical model of age-related changes in geometry and mechanical properties of conduit arteries is proposed. The model was based on the premise that given the time course of the load on an artery and the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products in the arterial tissue, the initial geometric dimensions and properties of the arterial tissue can be predicted by a solution of a boundary value problem for the governing equations that follow from finite elasticity, structure-based constitutive modeling within the constrained mixture theory, continuum damage theory, and global growth approach for stress-induced structure-based remodeling. An illustrative example of the age-related changes in geometry, structure, composition, and mechanical properties of a human thoracic aorta is considered. Model predictions were in good qualitative agreement with available experimental data in the literature. Limitations and perspectives for refining the model are discussed.