Mechanical characterization of spinal white and gray matter with a custom microindenter

Abstract

Mechanical properties of white and gray matter are essential to accurately predict spinal cord injury (SCI) due to blunt impact. In the present study, we conducted mechanical characterization of the spinal cord using a custom-built microindentation tester and closely investigated the difference between white and gray matter with a distinction of specific anatomical sites, i.e., cervical and lumbar regions as well as dorsal and ventral sides of the spine. Consequently, no significant difference was found between the Young’s moduli of white and gray matter. However, it was found that the Young’s modulus of the cervical region is more compliant than that of the lumbar region (P < 0.01), while the Young’s modulus of the dorsal side is significantly higher than that of the ventral side (P < 0.05). We need more studies to support the findings obtained here, but these results may indicate that the cervical and ventral regions are more susceptible to SCI when a traumatic load is applied to the spine.