Mechanical and neurological response of cat spinal cord under static loading.

The force/deformation relationship of the exposed spinal cord of cats was studied when the force was gradually applied posteriorly at T10. A linear elastic behavior was identified for deformation less than 0.5 mm, but it was not observed when the static force was no longer supported by the dural sheath. Nonlinear force/deformation, along with a strong hysteresis during a cycle of compression and decompression. The mechanical behavior remained practically the same in a repeated loading if the deformation was less than 2 mm. The motor function of cats did not recover after the cord had been compressed to 4 mm. The associated static force was about 15% of the dynamic force producing the same deformation.