The role of the fibrous components and ground substance in the mechanical properties of biological tissues:​ a preliminary investigation

Minns, R. J.; Soden, P. D.; Jackson, D. S.

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, England

²Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, England

Abstract

Stress-strain and relaxation tests were conducted on human tendon, aorta and bovine ligamentum nuchae which have different arrangements and proportions of elastin, collagen and ground substance. The removal of the ground substance with an enzyme or a chelating agent induced a decrease in stress level, stiffness, relaxation, hysteresis and other time-dependent effects in all three tissues. These changes could be largely explained by a reduction in the effective viscosity of the interfibre matrix although some other factor seemed to be present in the case of tendon, possibly a change in the relationship between the collagen fibres and the glycoproteins in the matrix.

Treating aorta and nuchal ligament with formic acid to remove collagen and other material produced a marked decrease in stress level and time-dependence and also a decrease in the stress and strain at rupture which may be due to the removal of collagen that normally prevents premature rupture at weak points in the elastic network.

Links

DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(73)90084-5

PubMed: 4632628

WoS: A1973O889000005

History

Received: 1972-05-04

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Cited By (26)

Year	Entry
1976	Minns RJ, Hunter JA. The mechanical and structural characteristics of the tibio-fibular interosseous membrane. Acta Orthop Scand. April 1976;47(2):236-240.
1983	Frank C, Woo SL-Y, Amiel D, Harwood F, Gomez M, Akeson W. Medial collateral ligament healing: a multidisciplinary assessment in rabbits. Am J Sports Med. 1983;11(6):379-389.
1976	Trent PS, Walker PS, Wolf B. Ligament length patterns, strength, and rotational axes of the knee joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. June 1976;117:263-270.
2001	Weiss JA, Gardiner JC. Computational modeling of ligament mechanics. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2001;29(3):303-371.
2020	Benos L, Stanev D, Spyrou L, Moustakas K, Tsaopoulos DE. A review on finite element modeling and simulation of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. August 20, 2020;8:967.
1974	Lakes RS, Katz JL. Interrelationships among the viscoelastic functions for anisotropic solids: application to calcified tissues and related systems. J Biomech. May 1974;7(3):259-270.
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1984	Butler DL, Grood ES, Noyes FR, Zernicke RF, Brackett K. Effects of structure and strain measurement technique on the material properties of young human tendons and fascia. J Biomech. 1984;17(8):579-596.
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