Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
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Finite element (FE) models have become an important tool to study load distribution in the healthy and degenerated disc. However, model predictions require accurate constitutive laws and material properties. As the mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc are regulated by its biochemical composition and fiber-reinforced structure, the relationship between the constitutive behavior of the tissue and its composition requires careful consideration. ⋯ The goodness of fit ranged from 0.88 to 0.96 for the four experimental conditions evaluated. The constitutive law emphasized the interdependency of the strong swelling ability of the tissue and the viscoelastic nature of the collagen fibers. This is especially important for numerical models to further study the load sharing behavior with regard to disc degeneration and regeneration.