Water content in human intervertebral discs. Part II. Viscoelastic behavior.
Water content of intervertebral discs is a significant aspect of both viscoelastic behavior and age-related degenerative changes. Using water content as a dependent variable, stress-relaxation was measured using standardized anulus fibrosus specimens strained at various levels of strain. Synthesis of experimental data into a master relaxation curve allows prediction of specimen response over time intervals not readily accessible experimentally. A quantitative understanding of the role of water content may have important clinical application, since magnetic resonance imaging is a tool which should allow water content determination in vivo.
Panagiotacopulos
N D
ND
California State University, Long Beach.
Pope
M H
MH
Bloch
R
R
Krag
M H
MH
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis*; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000032:analysis*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014783:Viscosity