Biphasic and Quasilinear Viscoelastic Theories for Hydrated Soft Tissues

The major connective tissues of the musculoskeletal system include tendons, ligaments, articular cartilage, meniscus and intervertebral disc. Their main purpose is to connect the muscles and bones of the body together forming joints of various shapes and sizes (the anatomy of joint surfaces and its influence on joint motion are covered by other chapters in these volumes), thereby enabling the wide ranges of motion required by the body during daily activities. These connective tissues are strong enough to transmit large loads from one bone to another or from muscles to bones. In addition, they provide structural stability for the musculoskeletal system and constrain the motion of joints when required. Under normal conditions they are able to maintain these properties with little or no damage or change. In this chapter, we present a brief account of three of these tissues: articular cartilage, meniscus and intervertebral disc. Descriptions of joint motion and other tissues, such as bone, tendons and ligaments, may be found in other chapters of these volumes.