142 Computational Modelling of Biomechanics and Biotribology
Soft tissues are generally brous connective tissues which can be either
dense or loose, depending on the collagen content. They consist primarily
of elastin, amorphous ground substance, cells and collagen bers (Martini
et al ., 1994). Collagen bers can be arranged in agreement with a regular
(e.g., tendons) or an irregular (e.g., skin) pattern, and regular tissues (i.e.,
with a regular ber arrangement) can be conveniently classi ed as uni- (e.g.,
tendons and ligaments) or multi- (e.g., arterial walls) directional. A multi-
directional tissue is herein intended to be made up of a number of stacked
thin layers (e.g., sub-lamellae in arterial tissues), each of them with a regular ...