A Fourier Domain Directional Filterng Method for Analysis of Collagen Alignment in Ligaments

Collagen fibers and their component fibrils make up the protenaceous " backbone" of most tissues and provide the majority of their resistance to tensile loading. Spatial orientation of collagen fibrils is an important factor in determining tissue properties. This is particularly true in ligament tissue, since ligaments must be loose enough to allow joints to move but tight enough to prevent joint surfaces from separating. A method is presented here to reproducibly quantify this collagen arrangement, which should be useful in studies on ligament healing and growth.