Mapping the Young's modulus distribution of the human tympanic membrane by microindentation. 2019

Huiyang Luo, and Fang Wang, and Chen Cheng, and Don U Nakmali, and Rong Z Gan, and Hongbing Lu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA; Karagozian and Case, Inc., 700 N Brand Blvd., Suite 700, Glendale, CA, 91203, USA.

The human tympanic membrane (TM, or eardrum) is composed primarily of layers of collagen fibers oriented in the radial and circumferential directions, as well as epidermal and mucosal layers at the lateral and medial surfaces. The mechanical properties of the TM depend on the microstructures of the collagen fibers, which vary with location, resulting in a spatial variation of Young's modulus. In this study, the Young's modulus of the human TM is measured using microindentation. A 10 μm diameter spherical nanoindenter tip is used to indent the TM at different locations in the lateral and medial surfaces. Through a viscoelastic contact analysis, the steady state out-of-plane (through thickness) Young's modulus at a constant strain rate for the TM is determined from the uniaxial relaxation modulus. The measured spatial distribution of Young's modulus is reported for the entire TM pars tensa on both lateral and medial surfaces. The Young's modulus, for the four TM quadrants, is analyzed statistically using a normal quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plot. The obtained S-shaped curve indicates a bi-modal Gaussian distribution in the Q-Q plot. The spatial distribution of the Young's modulus is modeled by a bivariate Gaussian function in the polar coordinates over the entire TM on both the lateral and medial surfaces. It is shown that the anterior-superior quadrant has the smallest value of Young's modulus. Differences are observed in the spatial distribution of the Young's modulus for both the lateral and medial surfaces. For the medial surface, Young's modulus varies mainly along the radial direction following a small-large-small trend, emanating from the umbo. For the lateral surface, the modulus at the anterior-superior quadrant shows the smallest modulus; the modulus decreases gradually along the radial directions. The quantitative results presented in this paper will help improve future simulation models of the middle ear by using spatial dependence of Young's modulus over the entire TM.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008954 Models, Biological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D014432 Tympanic Membrane An oval semitransparent membrane separating the external EAR CANAL from the tympanic cavity (EAR, MIDDLE). It contains three layers: the skin of the external ear canal; the core of radially and circularly arranged collagen fibers; and the MUCOSA of the middle ear. Eardrum,Eardrums,Membrane, Tympanic,Membranes, Tympanic,Tympanic Membranes

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