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Maximum tensile stress and strain of skin of the domestic pig—differences concerning pigs from organic and non-organic farming

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Abstract

The purpose of this work has been to determine differences in biomechanical properties of porcine skin from organic and non-organic farming as porcine skin is widely used as a model for human skin. A test apparatus was used, using gravity to stretch and finally tear a dumbbell-shaped specimen of prepared abdominal skin with a testing surface area of 25 × 4 mm. A total of 32 specimens were taken from seven individual pigs, three from organic and four from non-organic farming, in different orientations with respect to the Langer’s lines. The tests were performed at a dynamic speed of around 1.66 m/s (corresponding to a nominal strain rate of 67 s−1). Engineering strain at rupture was higher in pig skin from non-organic farming with values up to 321% as opposed to 90% in organic pig skin. The maximum tensile stress found in non-organic pig skin was lower than in pig skin from organic farming with maximum values of 34 MPa as opposed to 58 MPa. The reason for the difference in biomechanical properties is unclear; the effect of sunlight is discussed as well as other factors like age and exercise. It seems that the biomechanical properties of porcine skin from organic farming are more similar to those of human skin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) Munich, Institute of Legal Medicine, Nussbaumstrasse 26, D-80336, Munich, Germany

    Sylvia Schick, Felicitas Lanzl, Matthias Graw & Steffen Peldschus

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Universitaetsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse, 52 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Miriam Leiderer

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  1. Sylvia Schick
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  2. Miriam Leiderer
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Correspondence to Sylvia Schick.

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Highlights

• Maximum tensile stress and tensile strain at rupture of porcine skin was determined in dynamic tests

• Porcine skin from organic farming shows higher maximum tensile stress values

• Porcine skin from organic farming shows lower elongation values

• Porcine skin from organic farming seems to be a more accurate model for human skin

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Table 4 Test matrix and results
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Schick, S., Leiderer, M., Lanzl, F. et al. Maximum tensile stress and strain of skin of the domestic pig—differences concerning pigs from organic and non-organic farming. Int J Legal Med 134, 1501–1510 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02207-w

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