Bar graphs depicting the maximum load of the mesh materials.

<p>Both, longitudinal and transverse extension are provided together with reference values for the forces in the abdominal wall according to literature.</p

Basic descriptive data about the included meshes.

<p>Brand name, manufacturer, distributor of the mesh used in the experiments, material, weave, applications, and comments for each of the six meshes assessed are presented. Where available, manufacturer's claims about mechanical strength are also provided.</p

Bar graphs depicting the breaking strain in of the mesh materials.

<p>Bar graphs depicting the breaking strain in of the mesh materials.</p

Bar graphs depicting the stiffness of the mesh materials in longitudinal and trans-versal extension.

<p>Bar graphs depicting the stiffness of the mesh materials in longitudinal and trans-versal extension.</p

The six meshes assessed.

<p>The longitudinal direction was designated following inspection of the mesh weave. This is indicated by an arrow. Each photograph shows a 10 mm wide piece of the mesh material.</p

Mechanical properties in transverse extension testing.

<p>This direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.</p

Mechanical properties in longitudinal extension testing.

<p>This direction was determined optically by the investigators.</p

Basic statistical data about the test materials.

*<p>The quantitative difference of tested and evaluated specimens derives from measurement errors.</p