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Brain Tissue Mechanical Properties

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Neural Tissue Biomechanics

Part of the book series: Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials ((SMTEB,volume 3))

Abstract

Brain tissue is a complex multiphase material. Its mechanical behaviour arises from the inherent viscoelastic nature of the neural and supporting cellular components and their interaction with the vasculature and interstitial fluid. Brain behaves as a very soft, highly nonlinear viscoelastic solid. It has been mechanically characterised in shear, tension and compression, but despite decades of research into its behaviour, there is still considerable debate about its precise mechanical properties. This chapter aims to present the most reliable mechanical data for brain tissue, and to explain how this behaviour is affect by age, disease and a range of experimental conditions under which mechanical measurements are made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Australia and Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia

    Lynne E. Bilston

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  1. Lynne E. Bilston
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Correspondence to Lynne E. Bilston .

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  1. Medical Research Institute, Prince of Wales, Corner of Barker & Easy Street, Randwick, 2031, New South Wales, Australia

    Lynne E. Bilston

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Bilston, L.E. (2010). Brain Tissue Mechanical Properties. In: Bilston, L. (eds) Neural Tissue Biomechanics. Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/8415_2010_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/8415_2010_36

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-13889-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-13890-4

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