Regional biomechanical characterization of the spinal cord tissue: dynamic mechanical response

Editorial summary

Spinal cord samples from adult rats were examined by cyclic indentation to compare cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. Small oscillatory deformations at several frequencies were used to measure force response, viscoelastic moduli, energy loss and conditioning. The thoracic region was generally stiffer than the other regions, and mechanical behavior depended on loading frequency and prior loading. Experiments also demonstrated that the surrounding dura can substantially affect the measured response. The results emphasize anatomical location, membrane condition and testing history when interpreting spinal cord mechanics or developing tissue models.