Failure testing cerebral arteries: are branch points weaker than unbranched vessels?

The bursting pressure of samples of cerebral arteries was measured. Eighty-five samples of cerebral arteries were taken from 11 fresh cadavers. These samples were filled with saline under pressure to the point of bursting. The bursting pressures were recorded. The mean bursting pressure of all samples was 1.8 bar (1370 mmHg). The range was 0.7-4.6 (530-3190 mmHg). The mean bursting pressures of samples containing branch points was 1.6 and that of those without branch points was 2.2. This difference was significant with p < 0.001. Samples taken from persons dying from subarachnoid haemorrhage were weaker (mean 1.45 bar) than those taken from persons dying from other causes (mean 1.971 bar). This difference was significant with p < 0.001. Bursting pressure was found to decline at 2% per year of age. This figure was different from 0 with p = 0.003.