Abstract
Recently, in this department, pressure-displacement curve and breaking tension of dog and human tympanic membrane were studied using intact, fresh or dried tympanic membrane attached to external auditory meatus. However, physical property, proper elasticity-Young Modulus, of the tympanic membrane has not been clarified yet. Present study is attempted to further clarify proper Young Modulus of tympanic membrane, and to distinguish possible difference between layer of stratum radiatum and layer of stratum circulare of tympanic membrane in breaking tension and in Young Modulus. Tympanic membrane was excised from sacrificed dog, and preparation was made into the size of approximately 1 mm in width and 3 mm in length. In fresh or dried tympanic membrane, which was dried at $80^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs., some preparations were made along the long axis parallel to the fibers of radial direction, and others were made along the long axis perpendicular to the radial fibers-circular direction. Breaking tension and displacement according to loading, were measured and Young Modulus was calculated in tympanic membrane preparations under the different experimental conditions. Results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. Young Modulus of fresh tympanic membrane in radial direction was $6.57{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$, and that of fresh preparation in circular direction was $1.68{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$. The Young Modulus of fresh tympanic membrane in radial direction resembles to that of silk and whale moustache. In dried tympanic membrane, Young Modulus of preparation of radial direction was $30.2{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$ and that of preparation in circular direction was $25.0{\times}10^8\;dyne/cm^2$. 2. Breaking tension of fresh tympanic membrane was 44.9 gm/mm in radial preparation, and 7.9 gm/mm in circular preparation. In dried tympanic membrane, breaking tension was 46.7 gm/mm in preparation of radial direction, and 17.2 gm/mm in preparation of circular direction. 3. Much smaller breaking tension of the circular preparation-one fifth to the radial preparation-seemed to be responsible for the higher incidence of circular fiber breaking in tympanic membrane performation caused by trauma or sudden change in atmospheric pressure. 4. The correlation seemed to be very close between breaking tension and Young Modulus in tympanic membrane.