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Simulating uterine contraction by using an electro-chemo-mechanical model
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Solid Mechanics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Solid Mechanics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.
Linköping University, Department of Management and Engineering, Solid Mechanics. Linköping University, Faculty of Science & Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9891-6783
2016 (English)In: Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, ISSN 1617-7959, E-ISSN 1617-7940, Vol. 15, no 3, p. 497-510Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Contractions of uterine smooth muscle cells consist of a chain of physiological processes. These contractions provide the required force to expel the fetus from the uterus. The inclusion of these physiological processes is, therefore, imperative when studying uterine contractions. In this study, an electro-chemo-mechanical model to replicate the excitation, activation, and contraction of uterine smooth muscle cells is developed. The presented modeling strategy enables efficient integration of knowledge about physiological processes at the cellular level to the organ level. The model is implemented in a three-dimensional finite element setting to simulate uterus contraction during labor in response to electrical discharges generated by pacemaker cells and propagated within the myometrium via gap junctions. Important clinical factors, such as uterine electrical activity and intrauterine pressure, are predicted using this simulation. The predictions are in agreement with clinically measured data reported in the literature. A parameter study is also carried out to investigate the impact of physiologically related parameters on the uterine contractility.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer, 2016. Vol. 15, no 3, p. 497-510
Keywords [en]
Excitation-contraction model of uterine smooth muscle; Uterus contraction; Intrauterine pressure; Uterine electrical activity
National Category
Applied Mechanics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-121013DOI: 10.1007/s10237-015-0703-zISI: 000376014800002PubMedID: 26162461OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-121013DiVA, id: diva2:850819
Available from: 2015-09-02 Created: 2015-09-02 Last updated: 2018-01-03Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. A Continuum Framework for Modeling the Excitation–Contraction Coupling of Smooth Muscle
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Continuum Framework for Modeling the Excitation–Contraction Coupling of Smooth Muscle
2015 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Excitation-contraction coupling of smooth muscle refers to a chain of coupled physiological processes which convert a stimulus to a mechanical response. These processes can be disassociated into ionic transport during cell membrane excitation, activation of myosin light chains, and muscle contraction caused by actin-myosin interaction (filament sliding). This thesis concerns the development of a framework which allows to model the smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling constitutively by applying the principle of virtual power and dissipation inequality. In doing so, the transport of ions through membrane channels is characterized by an ionic flux and an ionic supply, both governed by an electrochemical potential energy. By letting the Helmholtz free energy to be dependent on the myosin light chain configurations during contraction, the myosin light chain activation process, i.e., myosin phosphorylation, is included. The activation process links the membrane excitation to the filament sliding. A contractile element is presented to replicate the active deformation caused by the filament sliding within the smooth muscle cell. This deformation is coupled to the overall deformation of the muscle tissue by assuming a distinct principal alignment for the contractile elements.

By employing this framework, an electro-chemo-mechanical model is derived by which the mechanical response of smooth muscle to an electrical stimulus is determined. This model is evaluated by comparing the model response to the experimental isometric stress data obtained from rat uterine smooth muscle tissue. By implementing this model in a finite element program, human uterine contractions during labor are simulated. This simulation determines important clinical factors, e.g., intrauterine pressure and provides the opportunity to investigate the effect of physiological and structural parameters on the uterine contractility.

Finally, a methodology to accommodate individualized parameters from intrauterine pressure measurements is established. This methodology allows to develop models with potentials of being used clinically to diagnose difficulties during labor and delivery.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2015. p. 39
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations, ISSN 0345-7524 ; 1687
National Category
Mechanical Engineering Applied Mechanics Materials Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-121015 (URN)978-91-7519-020-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2015-09-08, C3, Hus C, Campus Valla, Linköping, 10:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2015-09-02 Created: 2015-09-02 Last updated: 2018-01-03Bibliographically approved

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Sharifimajd, BabakThore, Carl-JohanStålhand, Jonas

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