Date of Award
Spring 1989
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Abstract
There is a considerable lack of experimental data necessary to delineate the structural and mechanical properties of spinal ligaments. The purpose of this investigation was two-fold: (1) to determine the dynamic response of human cervical spinal ligaments and (2) to determine the response characteristics of the monkey spinal/ligaments and a ratio between the strength parameters of the human and the monkey. Uniaxial tensile failure tests were conducted on human cadaveric anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) and ligamentum flavum (LF) structures. These ligaments were tested in situ by transecting all the elements except the one (ALL or LF) under study, to preserve the anatomical integrity of the specimen. The biomechanical properties of the ligaments are determined at four different loading rates of 8.9, 25.0, 250.0, and 2500.0 mm/s. The mechanical response indicated nonlinear and sigmoidal characteristics. The ultimate tensile failure load, stiffness, and energy absorbing capacity at failure were found to increase with increasing loading rates for both ALL and LF. However, the distractions at failure did not indicate this tendency. While the ultimate tensile force and ultimate energy absorbing capacity varied nonlinearly with the logarithm of the loading rate, the stiffness varied linearly. Uniaxial tensile failure tests were conducted on the spinal ligaments: ALL, PLL {posterior longituddinal [sic] ligament, LF, JC (joint capsules) ISL (interspinous ligament, and SSL (supraspinous ligament) of the nonhuman primate. A ratio between the strength parameters of human and nonhuman primate ligaments was determined. The spina/ligaments from seventeen monkeys were tested in situ under direct uniaxial tension at a loading rate of 2.5 mm/s. The biomechanical response indicated non-linear and sigmoidal characteristics. In general, the tensile failure load, stiffness and energy absorbing capacity increased from the cervical to lumbar region of the spine. Ligaments furthest from the center of the spinal column exhibited greater deformation. The ratios of the monkey to the human vary between ligaments. However, the monkey demonstrates approximately 54% of the human force at failure and 87% of the human deformation at failure. Also, the monkey exhibits approximately 43% of the human energy absorbing capacity to failure and 98% of the human stiffness.
Recommended Citation
Butler, James W., "Static and Dynamic Properties of Monkey and Human Spinal Ligaments" (1989). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 4019.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/4019