100 Computational Modelling of Biomechanics and Biotribology
and McCulloch, 2007). Lastly, stretch ion channels are protein complexes
in the cell membrane that open their central pore in response to exter-
nally applied strains (Arnadottir and Chal e, 2010; Sachs, 2010; Haswell
et al ., 2011). It is postulated that forces applied to the cell membrane lead
to an increase in membrane tension, which then opens the channels and
increases the in ux of extracellular ions which activate signaling pathways
that regulate cell function and gene expression (Vogel and Sheetz, 2006;
Janmey et al ., 2007).
4.3 Computational descriptions of whole-cell
mechanics
Computational models provide a tool with which we can interpret the
physical properties ...