A Continuum Mechanics Model for the Arterial Wall Growth and Remodeling under Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension is a chronic disease that one has higher blood pressure than normal. Since it is highly related to cardiovascular diseases, which is the culprit of death over the world, it is important to study hypertension, and it has been treated as an important topic for several decades.

In this study, we formulate nonlinear elasticity equations in the current configuration to model an idealized arterial wall under hypertension, using two material models. Under the conjectures that nature tries to adjust the circumferential stress arising from hypertension by growth and remodeling, we illustrate the growth and remodeling reduce the elevated circumferential stress and see the outcome of controlling the stress.

We made a conclusion that in order to have the preferred circumferential hoop stress, which is the circumferential hoop stress at the normal blood pressure, remodeling and growth are both needed.