Tyler Herod

Dalhousie University | Dal · Department of Biomedical Engineering

Purpose To determine whether the annulus of lumbar intervertebral discs contains circumferential specialization in collagen nanostructure and assess whether this coincides with functional differences in macroscale material properties. Methods Anterior and posterior disc wall samples were prepared from 38 mature ovine lumbar segments. Regional diff...

Previous research has shown that both the mechanics and elongation mechanisms of tendon and ligament vary with strain rate during tensile loading. In this study we sought to determine if the ultrastructural damage created during tendon rupture also varies with strain rate. A bovine forelimb model was used, allowing two anatomically proximate but ph...

Tendinopathic tissue has long been characterized by changes to collagen microstructure. However, initial tendon damage from excessive mechanical loading-a hallmark of tendinopathy development-could occur at the nanoscale level of collagen fibrils. Indeed, it is on this scale that tenocytes interact directly with tendon matrix, and excessive collage...

Statement of significance: Collagen fibrils-nanoscale biological cables-are the fundamental load-bearing elements of all structural human tissues. While all collagen fibrils share common features, such as being composed of a precise quarter-staggered polymeric arrangement of triple-helical collagen molecules, their structure can vary significantly...