title: FE models of stress-strain states in vascular smooth muscle cell.
abstract: The paper deals with problems related to computational modelling of stress-strain states in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). First, motivation for stress-strain analysis of SMCs is presented. Problems of their structure, geometry, constitutive models and initial (stress-free) state are analyzed on the basis of anatomical, histological and physiological knowledge. Various types of computational FE models of SMCs are presented; their constitutive models are identified on the basis of published mechanical tests carried out with SMCs cultured in vitro. Results of two models are presented; the former is a homogeneous model of the cell tension test with hyperelastic constitutive relations of the cell material. The latter model is more complex, it comprehends cortical and deep cytoskeleton, modelled as a tensegrity structure, and homogeneous linear elastic nucleus and remaining cytoplasm; it is used in computational modelling of indentation test. Perspectives, assumptions and limitations of computational modelling of SMCs under physiological load are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic. bursa@fme.vutbr.cz
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bursa
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lebis
authors.forename: Premysl
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janicek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D013314:Stress, Mechanical