title: Human knee ligaments: mechanical tests and ultrastructural observations.
abstract: The authors carried out mechanical tests on the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the human knee, using two different types of apparatus. They report and discuss the results of these tests relative to loads, stiffness and deformations. They also describe the electron microscopic findings in samples taken from above and below the macroscopic rupture. These observations are compared with those made in samples from unstressed ligaments.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013314:Stress, Mechanical