Mutliscale Mechanics, Mechanobiology and Imaging of Musculoskeletal Tissues

肌肉骨骼系统的功能主要是实现活动和传递机械负荷，但也具有生物组织在整个生命过程中维持和修复自身的能力。椎间盘退行性疾病、骨关节炎、骨质疏松症和重复性负荷综合征是西方世界最普遍的发病原因，随着人口老龄化，患病率可能会增加。机械因素，如重复性举重任务和急性超载，长期以来被认为与肌肉骨骼疾病的病因有关。结缔组织，如椎间盘、关节软骨和肌腱，随着衰老、退化和损伤，在生物学、生物化学和生物力学上发生多种尺度的改变。要了解机械、生物和遗传因素在肌肉骨骼疾病中的作用，需要对细胞如何相互作用有详细的了解

The musculoskeletal system functions primarily to enable mobility and transmit mechanical loads, yet also has the ability of biological tissues to maintain and repair itself throughout life. Degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and repetitive loading syndromes are some of the most prevalent causes of morbidity in the Western world, which will likely increase in prevalence with an aging population. Mechanical factors, such as repetitive lifting tasks and acute overloading, have long been implicated in the etiology of musculoskeletal disorders. Connective tissues such as intervertebral disc, articular cartilage and tendon are altered at multiple scales biologically, biochemically and biomechanically with ageing, degeneration and injury. To understand the role of mechanical, biological and genetic factors in musculoskeletal disorders requires the detailed knowledge of how the cells interact