Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Veronica Paddy on 13/12/2008 19:31:01

Title: How much force would it take to rupture the heart?
Post by: Veronica Paddy on 13/12/2008 19:31:01

Veronica Paddy  asked the Naked Scientists:

Good Morning Chris

I was wondering if you could tell me how much of force it would take to rupture the heart. Would you please put it in a context of such that it would help me relate to the force, like: the same amount of force it would take to do x for instance.

Thanks alot

Regards
Veronica

What do you think?

Title: How much force would it take to rupture the heart?
Post by: RD on 14/12/2008 10:44:17

Quote

Acceleration can reach 1,200 g during 60-mph collisions. Oldegard and Wernan measured a force of 290 g at
the left shoulder in 38-mph collisions. This more moderate collision produces a force of 198,000 N in a
normal-sized adult. Although some of the force is absorbed by the compliance in the chest wall and compression
of the aorta containing a fluid under pressure, this force exceeds by almost 10 times the force required
to split an aorta in our experiment.

http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/176/3/645.pdf