TY - JOUR
T1 - Subcutaneous tissue mechanical behavior is linear and viscoelastic under uniaxial tension
AU - Iatridis, James C.
AU - Wu, Junru
AU - Yandow, Jason A.
AU - Langevin, Helene M.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Subcutaneous tissue is part of a bodywide network of "loose" connective tissue including interstitial connective tissues separating muscles and surrounding all nerves and blood vessels. Despite its ubiquitous presence in the body and its potential importance in a variety of therapies utilizing mechanical stretch, as well as normal movement and exercise, very little is known about loose connective tissue's biomechanical behavior. This study aimed to determine elastic and viscoelastic mechanical properties of ex-vivo rat subcutaneous tissue in uniaxial tension with incremental stress relaxation experiments. The elastic response of the tissue was linear, with instantaneous and equilibrium tensile moduli of 4.77 kPa and 2.75 kPa, respectively. Using a 5 parameter Maxwell solid model, material parameters μ1 = 0.95 ± 0.24 Ns/m and μ2 = 8.49 ± 2.42 Ns/m defined coefficients of viscosity related to time constants τ1M = 3.83 ± 0.15 sec and τ2M = 30.15 ± 3.16 sec, respectively. Using a continuous relaxation function, parameters C = 0.25 ± 0.12, τ1C = 1.86 ± 0.34 sec, and τ2C = 110.40 ± 25.59 sec defined the magnitude and frequency limits of the relaxation spectrum. This study provides baseline information for the stress-strain behaviors of subcutaneous connective tissue. Our results underscore the differences in mechanical behaviors between loose and high-load bearing connective tissues and suggest that loose connective tissues may function to transmit mechanical signals to and from the abundant fibroblasts, immune, vascular, and neural cells present within these tissues.
AB - Subcutaneous tissue is part of a bodywide network of "loose" connective tissue including interstitial connective tissues separating muscles and surrounding all nerves and blood vessels. Despite its ubiquitous presence in the body and its potential importance in a variety of therapies utilizing mechanical stretch, as well as normal movement and exercise, very little is known about loose connective tissue's biomechanical behavior. This study aimed to determine elastic and viscoelastic mechanical properties of ex-vivo rat subcutaneous tissue in uniaxial tension with incremental stress relaxation experiments. The elastic response of the tissue was linear, with instantaneous and equilibrium tensile moduli of 4.77 kPa and 2.75 kPa, respectively. Using a 5 parameter Maxwell solid model, material parameters μ1 = 0.95 ± 0.24 Ns/m and μ2 = 8.49 ± 2.42 Ns/m defined coefficients of viscosity related to time constants τ1M = 3.83 ± 0.15 sec and τ2M = 30.15 ± 3.16 sec, respectively. Using a continuous relaxation function, parameters C = 0.25 ± 0.12, τ1C = 1.86 ± 0.34 sec, and τ2C = 110.40 ± 25.59 sec defined the magnitude and frequency limits of the relaxation spectrum. This study provides baseline information for the stress-strain behaviors of subcutaneous connective tissue. Our results underscore the differences in mechanical behaviors between loose and high-load bearing connective tissues and suggest that loose connective tissues may function to transmit mechanical signals to and from the abundant fibroblasts, immune, vascular, and neural cells present within these tissues.
KW - Fascia
KW - Skin
KW - Subcutaneous connective tissue
KW - Tensile material properties
KW - Viscoelastic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0347028686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03008200390244069
DO - 10.1080/03008200390244069
M3 - Article
C2 - 14660091
AN - SCOPUS:0347028686
SN - 0300-8207
VL - 44
SP - 208
EP - 217
JO - Connective Tissue Research
JF - Connective Tissue Research
IS - 5
ER -