Dynamic material properties of the tectorial membrane (TM) have been measured at audio frequencies in TMs excised from the apical portions of mouse cochleae. We review, integrate, and interpret recent findings. The mechanical point impedance of the TM in the radial, longitudinal, and transverse directions is viscoelastic and has a frequency dependence of the form 1/(K(j2pif)(alpha)) for 10

We determine the in-vivo dielectric properties—resistivity and relative permittivity—of living epidermis and dermis of human skin soaked with a physiological saline solution for one minute between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. This is done by fitting approximate analytical solutions of a mechanistic model for the transport of charges in these layers to a training set comprising impedance measurements at two depth settings on stripped skin on the volar forearm of 24 young subjects. Here, the depth settings are obtained by varying the voltage at a second inject on the electrical-impedance-spectroscopy probe. The model and the dielectric properties are validated with a test set for a third depth setting with overall good agreement. In addition, the means and standard deviations of the thicknesses of living epidermis and dermis are estimated from a literature review as 61±7 μm and 1.0±0.2 mm respectively. Furthermore, extensions to resolve the skin layers in more detail are suggested.

A mechanistic mathematical model for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements of human skin is analyzed, leading to a reduced model and approximate solutions. In essence, the model considers a complex-valued Laplace equation in the frequency domain for the alternating current from a circular EIS probe passing through the layers -stratum corneum, viable skin and adipose tissue -of human skin in the frequency range 1 kHz -1 MHz. The reduced model, which only needs to be solved numerically for the viable skin with modified boundary conditions, is verified with the full set of equations (non-reduced model): good agreement is found with a maximum relative error of less than 3%. A Hankel transform of the reduced model allows for approximate solutions of not only the measured impedance but also the point-wise potential distribution in the skin. In addition, the dimensionless numbers governing the EIS are elucidated and discussed.

An approximate semi-analytical solution based on a Hankel transform of a mechanistic model for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is derived for a non-invasive axisymmetric concentric probe with m electrodes measuring the response of n layers of human skin. We validate the semi-analytical solution for the case when the skin is treated as a three-layer entity - (i) stratum corneum, (ii) viable skin comprising living epidermis and dermis and (iii) adipose tissue – on the volar forearm in the frequency range 1 kHz to 1 MHz with experimental EIS measurements of 120 young subjects. Overall, we find good agreement for both the mean magnitude and phase of the impedance as well as the natural variability between subjects. Finally, the semi-analytical solution is verified with the full set of equations solved numerically: Good agreement is found for the point-wise potential distribution in the three skin layers.

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