Whitehead-Clarke, T;
Brown, C;
Ail, G;
Mudera, V;
Smith, C;
Kureshi, A;
(2023)
Characterisation of human posterior rectus sheath reveals mechanical and structural anisotropy.
Clinical Biomechanics
, 106
, Article 105989. 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105989.
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Abstract
Background: Our work aims to investigate the mechanical properties of the human posterior rectus sheath in terms of its ultimate tensile stress, stiffness, thickness and anisotropy. It also aims to assess the collagen fibre organisation of the posterior rectus sheath using Second-Harmonic Generation microscopy. Methods: For mechanical analysis, twenty-five fresh-frozen samples of posterior rectus sheath were taken from six different cadaveric donors. They underwent uniaxial tensile stress testing until rupture either in the transverse (n = 15) or longitudinal (n = 10) plane. The thickness of each sample was also recorded using digital callipers. On a separate occasion, ten posterior rectus sheath samples and three anterior rectus sheath samples underwent microscopy and photography to assess collagen fibre organisation. Findings: samples had a mean ultimate tensile stress of 7.7 MPa (SD 4.9) in the transverse plane and 1.2 MPa (SD 0.8) in the longitudinal plane (P < 0.01). The same samples had a mean Youngs modulus of 11.1 MPa (SD 5.0) in the transverse plane and 1.7 MPa (SD 1.3) in the longitudinal plane (P < 0.01). The mean thickness of the posterior rectus sheath was 0.51 mm (SD 0.13). Transversely aligned collagen fibres could be identified within the posterior sheath tissue using Second-Harmonic Generation microscopy. Interpretation: The posterior rectus sheath displays mechanical and structural anisotropy with greater tensile stress and stiffness in the transverse plane compared to the longitudinal plane. The mean thickness of this layer is around 0.51 mm – consistent with other studies. The tissue is constructed of transversely aligned collagen fibres that are visible using Second-Harmonic Generation microscopy.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Characterisation of human posterior rectus sheath reveals mechanical and structural anisotropy |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105989 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.105989 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Collagen, Hernia, Posterior sheath, Rectus sheath, Tensile strength |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10171453 |
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