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

Minns, R. J.<sup>1</sup>; Soden, P. D.<sup>1</sup>; Jackson, D. S.<sup>2</sup>

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 (24)

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.
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.
1976	Comninou M, Yannas IV. Dependence of stress-strain nonlinearity of connective tissues on the geometry of collagen fibres. J Biomech. 1976;9(7):427-433.
1979	Lanir Y. A structural theory for the homogeneous biaxial stress-strain relationships in flat collagenous tissues. J Biomech. 1979;12(6):423-436.
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.
1990	Monleón Pradas M, Diaz Calleja R. Nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour of the flexor tendon of the human hand. J Biomech. 1990;23(8):773-781.
1980	Lanir Y. A microstructure model for the rheology of mammalian tendon. J Biomech Eng. November 1980;102(4):332-339.
1998	Wren TAL, Carter DR. A microstructural model for the tensile constitutive and failure behavior of soft skeletal connective tissues. J Biomech Eng. February 1998;120(1):55-61.
1974	Noyes FR, DeLucas JL, Torvik PJ. Biomechanics of anterior cruciate ligament failure: an analysis of strain-rate sensitivity and mechanisms of failure in primates. J Bone Joint Surg. March 1974;56A(2):236-253.
1974	Noyes FR, Torvik PJ, Hyde WB, DeLucas JL. Biomechanics of ligament failure, II: an analysis of immobilization, exercise, and reconditioning effects in primates. J Bone Joint Surg. October 1974;56A(7):1406-1418.
2003	Chen Y. The Influence of Diabetes on Mechanical Properties of Skin [PhD thesis]. Cleveland State University; April 2003.
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