Anatomical Basis of Biomechanical Properties of Superficial Tissues of the Anterior Abdominal Wall

Abstract

Biomechanics is a science that studies the mechanical properties of tissues, individual organs and systems and the body as a whole. The unique mechanical properties of the skin provide the function of support and protection of internal organs through the skin mobility and elasticity. This feature of the skin is determined by its microstructural organization and arrangement of connective tissue fibres. The mechanical properties of the skin are mainly determined by the collagen-rich dermis. The mechanics of the dermis, in turn, depends on the structure, density and direction of collagen fibres. Each biological tissue is able to acquire deformation properties i.e. stretching or contraction. At each stage of deformation in the tissues of different topographic and anatomical areas there are changes in histoarchitectonics (within the plastic characteristics, and outside these parameters). Different structural interactions are expressed by different mechanical factors, which are adequate to the magnitude and direction of tensile forces (deformation vectors), form the typical features of the connective tissue matrix of abdominal wall tissues. Normalization of the direction of tissue stress vectors, uniform distribution of the direction and force of deformation prevent microstructural rearrangement of the surface tissues of the abdominal wall. Dynamic changes in the histological structure and biomechanical behaviour of the skin are closely related to the aging process, hormonal background, mechanical factors: physiological stretching of the skin during rapid growth in adolescence, pregnancy, overweight (or rapid weight loss), under the influence of physical load and wound healing. All these factors lead to connective tissue remodelling. Thus, the skin has a complex three-dimensional morphological structure; it is subjected to prolonged exposure to internal and external factors that determines its mechanical properties.