TISSUE REINFORCEMENT BY COLLAGEN

Collagen fibres provide tensile reinforcement in the tissues of the body. Their function is illustrated by the properties of three tissues: tendon, articular cartilage and intervertebral disc.Tendons join muscles to bones around the joints of the body. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones in most joints. Intervertebral discs join the bones of the spine making it a flexible structure. The degree of reinforcement, β, is given by the volume fraction of collagen in the tissues. The efficienc...