Biomechanics on the mechanical adaptation of biological tissues - their response to the cyclic load at the microstructural level -

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We studied the relationships between the microstructure and mechanical properties of mouse tail tendon and its collagen fascicles, using the new method by which tensile tests were performed observing the microstructure of them with a differential interference microscope.1. The fascicles were cyclically stressed to 50, 75, and 90 % of their tensile strength and faded at 128, 6, and 3 times. Microscopically, the partial rupture of some fibers was observed before the complete failure of the fascicles.2. The maximum load of a tail tendon was larger than the sum of that of its fascicles. A tail tendon was composed of several fascicles enveloped by a sheath. The difference in the maximum load might be attributable to mechanical interaction between fibers as well as between fibers and ground substance induced by binding fascicles with the sheath.