Abstract
The load bearing function of the intervertebral disc strongly depends on water-proteoglycan-collagen interactions within the disc tissues. In the annulus fibrosus (AF) the relative proportion of the major biochemical constituents - water, collagen and proteoglycan - varies significantly with disc region, radial location and level, and changes with disc herniation and degeneration. However, it is not known what effect these variations in tissue composition have on the mechanical behavior of intervertebral disc tissue. The aims of this study were to develop instrumentation and methodologies to: 1) measure the kinetics of isometric swelling and isometric swelling pressure of precisely prepared cylindrical specimens of soft tissues, such as AF, and 2) determine the intrinsic compressive stiffness and permeability of the AF specimens from specific regions and radial locations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 113-116 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Applied Mechanics Division, AMD |
| Volume | 98 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1989 |
| Event | Biomechanics Symposium - 1989 - San Diego, CA, USA Duration: Jul 9 1989 → Jul 12 1989 |