Fig. 5
From: Computational modeling of airway instability and collapse in tracheomalacia
Example deformation in muscles with posterior reduced muscle malacic properties. a mid airway cuts showing deformation for a = 1, b = 7 properties for 32 mm softening length under maximum 5 N load. b mid airway cuts showing deformation for a = 1, b = 1 properties for 32 mm softening length under maximum 5 N load. Although muscle infolding occurs complete collapse is not seen as with the anterior weakening model (compare Fig. 4), airway remains patent, and tracheal wall strains are much less with a maximum of 15%