Human connective tissue - 3D datasets to characterise the material properties

These datasets were aimed at measuring the distribution of human connective tissue and characterising the material properties. We, therefore, used the existing datasets of male and female body donors from the Visible Human Project (VHP). In the first step, collagen-containing structures were segmented and reconstructed using digital image processing. In addition, several properties (i.e. thickness, orientation) were characterised and analysed using computational methods. The percentage of fibrous components within the whole body was highest in the thigh. The results of the image processing provided local collagen orientation within the tissues. They showed that individual fascicles and subtendons can be resolved when isolated, but not within compact regions of connective tissues.