In-vivo stretch of term human fetal membranes

- In-vivo fetal membrane stretch was determined utilizing MRI imaging.
- Fetal membrane collagen fibers function near their failure state at term.
- The physiological surface area at term is approximately 70% of that at rupture.

IntroductionFetal membranes (FM) usually fail prior to delivery during term labor, but occasionally fail at preterm gestation, precipitating preterm birth. To understand the FM biomechanical properties underlying these events, study of the baseline in-vivo stretch experienced by the FM is required. This study's objective was to utilize high resolution MRI imaging to determine in-vivo FM stretch.MethodsEight pregnant women (38.4 ± 0.4wks) underwent abdominal-pelvic MRI prior to (2.88 ± 0.83d) caesarean delivery. Software was utilized to determine the total FM in-vivo surface area (SA) and that of its components: placental disc and reflected FM. At delivery, the SA of the disc and FM in the relaxed state were measured. In-vivo (stretched) to delivered SA ratios were calculated. FM fragments were then biaxially stretched to determine the force required to re-stretch the FM back to in-vivo SA.ResultsTotal FM SA, in-vivo vs delivered, was 2135.51 ± 108.47 cm2 vs 842.59 ± 35.86 cm2; reflected FM was 1778.42 ± 107.39 cm2 vs 545.41 ± 22.90 cm2, and disc was 357.10 ± 28.08 cm2 vs 297.18 ± 22.14 cm2. The ratio (in-vivo to in-vitro SA) of reflected FM was 3.26 ± 0.11 and disc was 1.22 ± 0.10. Reflected FM re-stretched to in-vivo SA generated a tension of 72.26 N/m, corresponding to approximate pressure of 15.4 mmHg. FM rupture occurred at 295.08 ± 31.73 N/m corresponding to approximate pressure of 34 mmHg. Physiological SA was 70% of that at rupture.DiscussionFM are significantly distended in-vivo. FM collagen fibers were rapidly recruited once loaded and functioned near the failure state during in-vitro testing, suggesting that, in-vivo, minimal additional (beyond physiological) stretch may facilitate rapid, catastrophic failure.