Anotace:
A study of mechanical properties of native tissues is a great challenge in biomechanics. Especially, hardly accessible structures that play a very important role within a locomotive system. A study of a cartilaginous endplate (CEP) is just such a challenge. CEP is approximately 0.6 mm thin layer of hyaline cartilage between an intervertebral disc (IVD) and a vertebral body (VB). A calcification or any mechanical damage of CEP can cause restrictions of nutrition and metabolic waste flow inward and outward from IVD, respectively. Degenerative processes influence mechanical properties of the tissue. Due to very small thickness of CEP, instrumental nanoindentation seems to be suitable method for this task. This paper presents a study of time dependent viscoelastic properties of native porcine CEP using nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis in the range of frequency from 5 Hz to 215 Hz. The storage moduli were obtained in the range from 11.78 MPa to 17.11 MPa. The loss moduli were obtained in the range from 2.96 MPa to 5.32 MPa.