Tensile Strength of the Aorta can be Estimated From Mechanical Parameters Which Depends on Degree of Intramural Collagen Fiber Alignment

Aortic aneurysms larger than a critical value, ∼50 mm for example, have high risk of rupture due to the Laplace’s law. However, aneurysms smaller than the critical diameter sometimes rupture ^{(1, 2)}. Since intramural stress is relatively low in smaller aneurysms, their rupture indicates weakening of aneurysmal wall. For more reliable prediction of risk of aneurysm rupture, therefore, local strength of aneurysmal wall should be obtained.