Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Myers, Kristin M
Other Authors: Simona Socrate.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36196
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author Myers, Kristin M
author2 Simona Socrate.
author_facet Simona Socrate.
Myers, Kristin M
author_sort Myers, Kristin M
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.
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spelling mit-1721.1/361962019-04-10T20:14:57Z Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue Myers, Kristin M Simona Socrate. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-103). The mechanical integrity of cervical tissue is crucial for maintaining a healthy gestation. Altered tissue biochemistry can cause drastic changes in the mechanical properties of the cervix and contribute to premature cervical dilation and delivery. This work presents an investigation of the mechanical and biochemical properties of cervical samples from human hysterectomy specimens. Three clinical cases were investigated: non-pregnant hysterectomy patients with previous vaginal deliveries, non-pregnant hysterectomy patients with no previous vaginal deliveries, and pregnant hysterectomy patients at time of cesarean section. Tissue samples for the three clinical cases were tested mechanically and analyzed for biochemical content. Tissue samples were tested in confined and unconfined compression, and biochemical assays measured cervical tissue hydration, collagen content, collagen extractability, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan content. The non-pregnant tissue was found to be significantly stiffer than the pregnant tissue. Collagen extractability was significantly higher in the pregnant tissue. This study represents a first important step towards the attainment of an improved understanding of the complex interplay between the molecular structure of cervical tissue and its macroscopic mechanical properties. by Kristin M. Myers. S.M. 2007-02-21T12:04:01Z 2007-02-21T12:04:01Z 2005 2005 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36196 76835579 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 103 leaves application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Myers, Kristin M
Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title_full Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title_fullStr Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title_short Mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
title_sort mechanical and biochemical properties of human cervical tissue
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36196
work_keys_str_mv AT myerskristinm mechanicalandbiochemicalpropertiesofhumancervicaltissue