Abstract
Growth‐related changes in the mechanical properties of collagen fascicles (approximately 300 μm in diameter) were studied using patellar tendons obtained from skeletally immature 1 and 2 months old and matured 6 months old rabbits. Tensile properties were determined using a specially designed micro‐tensile tester. In each age group, there were no significant differences in the properties among cross‐sectional locations in the tendon. Tangent modulus and tensile strength significantly increased with age; the rates of their increases between 1 and 2 months were higher than those between 2 and 6 months. The tangent modulus and tensile strength were positively correlated with the body weight of animals. However, growth‐related changes in the mechanical properties were different between collagen fascicles and bulk patellar tendons, which may be attributable to such non‐collagenous components as ground substances and also to mechanical interactions between collagen fascicles.
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