Effect of temperature on changes of tensile stress at constant elongation in certain human soft tissues

The nature and magnitude of the temperature-induced changes in the initial tensile stress at constant elongation have been investigated in relation to the human artery and vein walls, tendons, and muscle tissue. It has been established that for a cylindrical segment and a specimen of artery wall heated from 10 to 45°C the stress increases, whereas for the vein wall, the tendon, and the muscle tissue it decreases. This behavior of the artery and vein walls is attributed to their different biochemical composition. The difference in the stress-temperature dependence associated with age has been studied. The stresses in the walls of the human femoral artery and great saphenous vein have been determined during autopsy.