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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

quadriceps femoris tendon, MicroScribe technology, tendon fibers

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Not all tendons and ligaments are created equally. Many have different structural characteristics based on functionality or need for stability. This turns out to be true even between different portions of the same tendon. This project’s purpose was to analyze and compare structural differences between tendon fibers of the patellar portion and quadriceps portion of the quadriceps femoris tendon. We hypothesized that there are significant structural differences between these two portions because they act very different biomechanically, as well as different in the amount of tension/strain put on each portion. We mapped individual tendon fibers of both portions using MicroScribe technology, which gave us more detailed data about fiber patterns and structural differences including spacing, width, etc.

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