BME Seminar Series: Mark Buckley, Asst. Prof., Biomed Eng, UR

Functional Changes in Tendon Induced by Compositional Alterations

Abstract:

Tendons are endowed with a complex structure and composition that are critical to their predominantly mechanical function in the body. In separate studies, we have investigated how the two primary constituents of tendon, water and collagen, impact tendon mechanical properties. First, we will describe regional variations in content of type I, II and III collagen in the human supraspinatus tendon that are correlated with differences in mechanical and structural properties. Next, we will describe the impact of water content on low-strain (i.e., toe-region) tendon viscoelastic mechanical properties and relate these properties to the processes of fluid exudation and collagen uncrimping. Understanding how alterations in tendon composition impact tendon mechanics is critical for developing therapies designed to restore function in injured or pathological tissue.