ON THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF TENDON

A mesoscopic approach is followed for mathematical modelling of the sp ecific deformation properties of tendon. The approach starts from our general concept of modelling mechanical behaviour of heterogeneous med ia and assumes that the structure of tendon is optimized in such a way that it enables its adjacent muscle to work with a constant performan ce in the course of increasing loading (acting like a gearbox in a car ). The model based on this assumption gives results that are in a very good accordance with observed properties of tendons. Clinical experie nce reveals that if this function of tendon is violated pathological c hanges appear in the respective muscle.