Tension-torsion characteristics of the canine anterior cruciate ligament--Part I: Theoretical framework.
It has been observed that the fascicles in the canine anterior cruciate ligament do not follow a straight line path between the tibial and femoral attachment sites, but rather their path is approximately helical about the ligament axis. Thus, a mathematical model for the mechanical response of a ligament was developed from the observed geometrical configuration of the fascicle. The principal result of the model indicated that a torque must always accompany the force during elongation of a ligament. The relationships between the ligament and fascicle variables are also examined in detail.
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological