Combining in silico and in vitro experiments to characterize the role of fascicle twist in the Achilles tendon.

ABSTRACT: The Achilles tendon (AT), the largest tendon in the human body has a unique structural feature, that is the fascicles in the AT display spiral twist. However, their functional and structural roles are still unclear. We used subject-specific computational models and tissue mechanical experiment to quantitatively characterize the role of fascicle twist in the Achilles tendon. Ten subject-specific finite element (FE) models of the Achilles tendon were developed from ultrasound images. Fascicle twist was implemented in these models using the material coordinate system available in our FE framework. Five different angles (0~60°) were implemented and material property optimization was performed for each of them (total 50 sets) using results from uniaxial stretch experiment. We showed that fascic

SUBMITTER: Shim VB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6138712 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature