Figure 3

Representative stress–strain curve collected from human rectal tissue. Stress represents the load per cross-sectional area being applied to the sample. Strain represents the elongation of the specimen relative to its initial length (2 cm). Ultimate strength was calculated as the maximum stress (arrowhead) applied to a specimen, and in all cases for this study was the point at which the tissue substantially tore. Elongation at break (arrow) is the strain achieved by the sample at the point of ultimate stress. Modulus was calculated as the slope of the linear region within the stress/strain curve.