Stiffness: Difference between revisions

Another application of stiffness finds itself in [[skin]] biology. The skin maintains its structure due to its intrinsic tension, contributed to by [[collagen]], an extracellular protein which accounts for approximately 75% of its dry weight.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chattopadhyay|first1=S.|last2=Raines|first2=R.|title=Collagen-Based Biomaterials for Wound Healing|journal=Biopolymers|date=August 2014|volume=101|issue=8|pages=821–833|doi= 10.1002/bip.22486|pmid=24633807|pmc=4203321}}</ref> The pliability of skin is a parameter of interest that represents its firmness and extensibility, encompassing characteristics such as elasticity, stiffness, and adherence. These factors are of functional significance to patients.{{cn|date=November 2019}} This is of significance to patients with traumatic injuries to the skin, whereby the pliability can be reduced due to the formation and replacement of healthy skin tissue by a pathological [[scar]]. This can be evaluated both subjectively, or objectively using a device such as the Cutometer. The Cutometer applies a vacuum to the skin and measures the extent to which it can be vertically distended. These measurements are able to distinguish between healthy skin, normal scarring, and pathological scarring,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nedelec|first1=Bernadette|last2=Correa|first2=José|last3=de Oliveira|first3=Ana|last4=LaSalle|first4=Leo|last5=Perrault|first5=Isabelle|title=Longitudinal burn scar quantification|journal=Burns|volume=40|issue=8|pages=1504–1512|date=2014|doi= 10.1016/j.burns.2014.03.002}}</ref> and the method has been applied within clinical and industrial settings to monitor both pathophysiological sequelae, and the effects of treatments on skin.