Tissue mechanics.

The human body, from an engineering point of view, is a load-transmitting mechanism. It is subjected to self-originated and/or environmentally-imposed actions (Abrahams 1965, Paul 1967). These in turn manifest themselves in actions on tissue, and the tissue’s capability to withstand and transmit the corresponding loads through deforming appropriately can be characterized in health and disease. Knowledge of such ‘load-deformation’ relations of the tissues can serve as a basis for diagnosis, for the development of techniques of therapy (in reconstructive surgery for example) and in general for monitoring treatment progress (Jansen 1955, Vlasblom 1967, Finlay 1970). The literature of tissue mechanics in its biological, biochemical, mechanical and other aspects is intimidating in its extent (see appended Bibliography). Despite this it is still far easier to list knowledge gaps which exist and work that requires to be done than to identify any achievement commensurate with the research effort expended and which can truly be claimed as relevant to the human patient. The authors-believers in pragmatic bioengineering-attempt in this paper to explore the reasons for this. Their competence is limited to the medical and mechanical aspects and the paper is presented within such limitations. It will, however, emerge that even such a limited exploration uncovers the need for a