Cellular response to mechanical loading varies between the anatomic zones of the intervertebral disc. This difference may be related to differences in the structure and mechanics of both cells and extracellular matrix, which are expected to cause differences in the physical stimuli (such as pressure, stress, and strain) in the cellular micromechanical environment. In this study, a finite element model was developed that was capable of describing the cell micromechanical environment in the intervertebral disc. The model was capable of describing a number of important mechanical phenomena: flow-dependent viscoelasticity using the biphasic theory for soft tissues; finite deformation effects using a hyperelastic constitutive law for the solid phase; and material anisotropy by including a fiber-reinforced continuum law in the hyperelastic strain energy function. To construct accurate finite element meshes, the in situ geometry of IVD cells were measured experimentally using laser scanning confocal microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction techniques. The model predicted that the cellular micromechanical environment varies dramatically between the anatomic zones, with larger cellular strains predicted in the anisotropic anulus fibrosus and transition zone compared to the isotropic nucleus pulposus. These results suggest that deformation related stimuli may dominate for anulus fibrosus and transition zone cells, while hydrostatic pressurization may dominate in the nucleus pulposus. Furthermore, the model predicted that micromechanical environment is strongly influenced by cell geometry, suggesting that the geometry of IVD cells in situ may be an adaptation to reduce cellular strains during tissue loading.
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February 2003
Technical Papers
The Micromechanical Environment of Intervertebral Disc Cells Determined by a Finite Deformation, Anisotropic, and Biphasic Finite Element Model
Anthony E. Baer,
Anthony E. Baer
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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Tod A. Laursen,
Tod A. Laursen
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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Farshid Guilak,
Farshid Guilak
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
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Lori A. Setton
Lori A. Setton
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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Anthony E. Baer
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Tod A. Laursen
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Farshid Guilak
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
Lori A. Setton
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING. Manuscript received April 2002; revised manuscript received September 2002. Associate Editor: C. Dong.
J Biomech Eng. Feb 2003, 125(1): 1-11 (11 pages)
Published Online: February 14, 2003
Article history
Received:
April 1, 2002
Revised:
September 1, 2002
Online:
February 14, 2003
Citation
Baer, A. E., Laursen, T. A., Guilak, F., and Setton, L. A. (February 14, 2003). "The Micromechanical Environment of Intervertebral Disc Cells Determined by a Finite Deformation, Anisotropic, and Biphasic Finite Element Model ." ASME. J Biomech Eng. February 2003; 125(1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1532790
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