Stress in collagen fibrils of articular cartilage calculated from their measured orientations.
Articular cartilage may be considered as a form of pressure vessel in which the internal swelling pressure is balanced by tensile stress in the collagen fibrils. This stress is calculated by analysing the tissue as a series of microscopically small pressure vessels. The previously measured orientations of the collagen fibrils describe the structure necessary for this calculation. The stresses and strains developed in the fibrils are shown to be well within physiological limits.
Aspden
R M
RM
Department of Medical and Physiological Chemistry, University of Lund, Sweden.
Hukins
D W
DW
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013552:Swine
D003094:Collagen