Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the geometrical and mechanical properties of human thoracic spine ligaments subjected to uniaxial quasi-static tensile test.
METHODS: Four human thoracic spines, obtained through a body donation program, were utilized for the study. The anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), capsular ligament (CL), ligamenta flava (LF), and the interspinous ligament and supraspinous ligament complex (ISL + SSL), were investigated. The samples underwent specimen preparation, including dissection, cleaning, and reinforcement, before being immersed in epoxy resin. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed using a custom-designed mechanical testing machine equipped with an environmental chamber (T = 36.6 °C; humidity 95%). Then, the obtained tensile curves were averaged preserving the characteristic regions of typical ligaments response.
RESULTS: Geometrical and mechanical properties, such as initial length and width, failure load, and failure elongation, were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among the ligaments for all investigated parameters. Pairwise comparisons using Tukey\'s post-hoc test indicated differences in initial length and width. ALL and PLL exhibited higher failure forces compared to CL and LF. ALL and ISL + SSL demonstrated biggest failure elongation. Comparisons with other studies showed variations in initial length, failure force, and failure elongation across different ligaments. The subsystem (Th1 - Th6 and Th7 - Th12) analysis revealed increases in initial length, width, failure force, and elongation for certain ligaments.
CONCLUSIONS: Variations of both the geometric and mechanical properties of the ligaments were noticed, highlighting their unique characteristics and response to tensile force. Presented results extend very limited experimental data base of thoracic spine ligaments existing in the literature. The obtained geometrical and mechanical properties can help in the development of more precise human body models (HBMs).
METHODS: Four human thoracic spines, obtained through a body donation program, were utilized for the study. The anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), capsular ligament (CL), ligamenta flava (LF), and the interspinous ligament and supraspinous ligament complex (ISL + SSL), were investigated. The samples underwent specimen preparation, including dissection, cleaning, and reinforcement, before being immersed in epoxy resin. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed using a custom-designed mechanical testing machine equipped with an environmental chamber (T = 36.6 °C; humidity 95%). Then, the obtained tensile curves were averaged preserving the characteristic regions of typical ligaments response.
RESULTS: Geometrical and mechanical properties, such as initial length and width, failure load, and failure elongation, were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among the ligaments for all investigated parameters. Pairwise comparisons using Tukey\'s post-hoc test indicated differences in initial length and width. ALL and PLL exhibited higher failure forces compared to CL and LF. ALL and ISL + SSL demonstrated biggest failure elongation. Comparisons with other studies showed variations in initial length, failure force, and failure elongation across different ligaments. The subsystem (Th1 - Th6 and Th7 - Th12) analysis revealed increases in initial length, width, failure force, and elongation for certain ligaments.
CONCLUSIONS: Variations of both the geometric and mechanical properties of the ligaments were noticed, highlighting their unique characteristics and response to tensile force. Presented results extend very limited experimental data base of thoracic spine ligaments existing in the literature. The obtained geometrical and mechanical properties can help in the development of more precise human body models (HBMs).
摘要：
目的：本研究旨在研究经单轴准静态拉伸试验的人体胸椎韧带的几何和力学性能。
方法：四个人胸椎，通过遗体捐赠计划获得的，被用于研究。前纵韧带(ALL),后纵韧带(PLL),囊韧带（CL），黄韧带（LF），棘间韧带和棘上韧带复合体（ISL+SSL），被调查了。样品经过标本制备，包括解剖,清洁,和加固，在浸入环氧树脂之前。使用配备有环境室(T=36.6°C;湿度95%)的定制设计的机械测试机进行单轴拉伸测试。然后，将获得的拉伸曲线平均，保留典型韧带反应的特征区域。
结果：几何和机械性能，如初始长度和宽度，失效载荷,和失效伸长率，被测量。方差分析（ANOVA）揭示了所有研究参数的韧带之间的显着差异。使用Tukey的事后检验进行的成对比较表明初始长度和宽度存在差异。与CL和LF相比，ALL和PLL表现出更高的故障力。ALL和ISL+SSL表现出最大的失效伸长率。与其他研究的比较显示了初始长度的变化，破坏力,和不同韧带的断裂伸长率。子系统(Th1-Th6和Th7-Th12)分析显示初始长度增加，宽度,破坏力,和某些韧带的伸长。
结论：注意到韧带的几何和机械性能的变化，突出其独特的特性和对拉力的反应。提出的结果扩展了文献中存在的非常有限的胸椎韧带实验数据库。获得的几何和机械性能可以帮助开发更精确的人体模型（HBM）。
方法：四个人胸椎，通过遗体捐赠计划获得的，被用于研究。前纵韧带(ALL),后纵韧带(PLL),囊韧带（CL），黄韧带（LF），棘间韧带和棘上韧带复合体（ISL+SSL），被调查了。样品经过标本制备，包括解剖,清洁,和加固，在浸入环氧树脂之前。使用配备有环境室(T=36.6°C;湿度95%)的定制设计的机械测试机进行单轴拉伸测试。然后，将获得的拉伸曲线平均，保留典型韧带反应的特征区域。
结果：几何和机械性能，如初始长度和宽度，失效载荷,和失效伸长率，被测量。方差分析（ANOVA）揭示了所有研究参数的韧带之间的显着差异。使用Tukey的事后检验进行的成对比较表明初始长度和宽度存在差异。与CL和LF相比，ALL和PLL表现出更高的故障力。ALL和ISL+SSL表现出最大的失效伸长率。与其他研究的比较显示了初始长度的变化，破坏力,和不同韧带的断裂伸长率。子系统(Th1-Th6和Th7-Th12)分析显示初始长度增加，宽度,破坏力,和某些韧带的伸长。
结论：注意到韧带的几何和机械性能的变化，突出其独特的特性和对拉力的反应。提出的结果扩展了文献中存在的非常有限的胸椎韧带实验数据库。获得的几何和机械性能可以帮助开发更精确的人体模型（HBM）。
