Multi-scale mechanics of musculoskeletal tissues

退行性椎间盘疾病、腰痛、骨关节炎、骨质疏松症和重复负荷综合征是西方世界最常见的发病原因，所有预测都表明在可预见的未来患病率会增加。肌肉骨骼系统的功能主要是传递机械负荷，但也有生物组织的显着能力，以维持和修复本身正常的整个生命。这种能力归因于组织内的细胞，它们都含有指导细胞外基质中结构大分子的合成、组装和修复的必要信息。大量证据表明，肌肉骨骼组织能够很好地适应其生物力学环境，并能适应不断变化的机械需求。然而，机制知之甚少，有必要调查更定量和直接的复杂和生理机械负荷对细胞生物合成的原位效果。

Degenerative disc disease, low back pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and repetitive loading syndromes are some of the most prevalent causes of morbidity in the Western world, and all predictions point to an increasing prevalence for the foreseeable future. The musculoskeletal system functions primarily to transmit mechanical loads, yet also has the remarkable ability of biological tissues to maintain and repair itself normally throughout life. This ability is attributable to the cells within the tissues, which all contain the essential information to direct the synthesis, assembly, and repair of the structural macromolecules in the extracellular matrix. Considerable evidence indicates that musculoskeletal tissues are well adapted to their biomechanical environment, and can adapt in response to changing mechanical demands. However, the mechanisms are poorly understood and there is a need to investigate more quantitatively and directly the in situ effect of complex and physiological mechanical loads on cell bio-synthesis.