Fiber Matrix Models of the Dermis

This chapter presents a review of fiber-matrix models that have been used to simulate the mechanical response of the dermis. It summarizes the physical and mechanical properties of the dermis. Different categories of fiber-matrix models are presented. These include structurally based models that represent the orientation and undulation of collagen fibers using probability density functions; models that represent the collagen fiber undulation in a phenomenological sense using exponential functions; eight-chain non-Gaussian network models; and, more recently, discrete-fiber icosahedral models. The ability of each model type to simulate experimental data is discussed, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the experimental protocols that are needed to validate and further develop physical fiber-matrix models of the dermis