[Length-force relation of rat-carotid artery at different transmural pression. Experiments and models (author's transl)].

The relation between force and extension in longitudinal direction as a function of the internal pressure was examined in isolated carotid arteries of rats using a device for testing the stress-strain relation of fibers (Vibrodyn). In the region of small longitudinal extensions the longitudinal force is decreased by raising the internal pressure. The longitudinal force is increased as a function of the internal pressure in the region of high longitudinal extensions. This behaviour can be explained by a model of the arterial wall which takes into account the spiral structure of the fibers. We could find a good qualitative agreement between this model and our experiments. It can be concluded that the histological structure plays an important role in determining the elastic behaviour of the arterial wall.