Constitutive Modeling of Uterine Wound Healing: Applications to Postpartum Involution and Surgical Scarring

The uterus undergoes major structural and mechanical changes after childbirth, especially during postpartum involution and following Cesarean delivery. However, the biomechanics of uterine healing remain poorly understood. This thesis focuses on characterizing the passive mechanical properties of murine uterine tissue across both natural postpartum recovery and surgical healing in the uterus. By using previously collected uniaxial and biaxial mechanical testing data, a two-fiber family plus neo-Hookean (2D 2FF + NH) constitutive model was applied to quantify changes in matrix stiffness, fiber alignment, and strain energy across various timepoints. Both mechanical testing data offered an extensive advantage to study these experimental setups, as they uncover the directional properties and physiological behavior of the murine uterine horns. This study establishes a mathematical foundation for futures studies on uterine wound healing and supports the development of diagnostic or therapeutic tools to improve proper uterine involution and recovery.