Mechanics of blood vessels used for coronary bypass surgery

Coronary artery disease is common among middle aged and elderly persons – a disease in which one or more of the major arteries of the heart become sufficiently narrowed by atherosclerosis that blood flow of the heart muscle is impaired. Aortocoronary bypass surgery is a common procedure to ‘cure’ this problem. The frequently used vessel for a bypass graft is the saphenous vein (long vein in the leg).