Figure 5.

Change in outer diameter with contraction under various physiologically relevant pressures at the fixed physiological length. The magnitude of the change in diameter with contraction was diminished at 15 mmHg for the proximal (black) and distal (grey) region, and 10 mmHg for the distal region only (a). Change in outer diameter with contraction at various physiologically relevant lengths under the mean measured in vivo pressure (b). Change in axial force with contraction under various physiologically relevant pressures at the fixed physiological length (c). Change in axial force with contraction at various physiologically relevant lengths under the mean measured in vivo pressure (d). A parabolic function (dashed lines) describes the changes in circumferential stress to circumferential stretch (RMSE; proximal = 0.09 and distal = 0.04) (e) and axial stress to axial stretch (RMSE; proximal = 0.09 and distal = 0.08) (f) curves. The absolute value of the change in stress at the physiological length and pressure. At the distal region, axial stress was greater than circumferential stress (g). Data are reported as mean ± s.e.m. Statistical significance denoted by *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01.