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Course Topics

• Response of cells and tissues to exogenous mechanical loading.
• Endogenous mechanical forces generated by cells (viz., contractile forces generated by connective tissue cells).
• Molecular structure-mechanical properties relationships for selected connective tissues.
  • Chemical composition of the extracellular matrix of tissues.
  • Structure of tissues (viz., connective tissues) at the nanometer, micrometer, and millimeter length scales (including the hierarchical structure of tissues).
  • Load-deformation behavior of tissues at the micrometer and millimeter scales.
    
    
• Interrelationships among the above.

Unique Aspects of the Subject

• Assessment of the response of cells and tissues to mechanical forces; discussion of mechano-transduction mechanisms.
• Discussion of contraction of connective tissue cells.

Course Textbook

Yannas, I. V. Tissue and Organ Regeneration in Adults. New York, NY: Springer, 2001. ISBN: 9780387952147.

This book is supplemented by papers, presentations and readings.

Grading

The course grade is based entirely on the three quizzes.