Medical Engineering & Physics
Volume 30, Issue 10 , Pages 1318-1337, December 2008

Rheological properties of the tissues of the central nervous system: A review

  • Shaokoon Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Both these authors have contributed equally to this work.
    • ,
  • Elizabeth C. Clarke

      Affiliations

    • Both these authors have contributed equally to this work.
    • ,
  • Lynne E. Bilston

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 2 9399 1073; fax: +61 2 9399 1082.

Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia

Received 11 March 2008; received in revised form 23 May 2008; accepted 1 June 2008. published online 09 July 2008.

Abstract 

Knowledge of the biomechanical properties of central nervous system (CNS) tissues is important for understanding mechanisms and thresholds for injury, and aiding development of computer or surrogate models of these tissues. Many investigations have been conducted to estimate the properties of CNS tissues including under shear, compressive and tensile loading, however there is much variability in this body of literature, making it difficult to separate the material properties from effects that result from a given experimental protocol. This review summarises previous studies of brain and spinal cord properties; discussing their main findings and points of difference, and displays the reported data on comparable scales. Additionally, based on the observed effects of methodological choices on reported tissue properties, recommendations for future studies of brain and spinal cord properties are made.

Keywords: Brain, Spinal cord, Mechanical properties, Rheological properties, Viscoelasticity

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PII: S1350-4533(08)00105-7

doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2008.06.003

Medical Engineering & Physics
Volume 30, Issue 10 , Pages 1318-1337, December 2008

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