Speed of Sound in Mammalian Tendon Threads Using Various Reference Media

Acoustic microscopy has now made it possible to characterize biological materials on the microscopic level ultrasonically. The importance of the environmental conditions of the material being examined on its acoustic properties is demonstrated. Mammalian tendon threads (on the order of 150 µm in diameter) were examined with the scanning laser acoustic microscope while varying the media in which they were bathed. A relation between the osmolarity of the reference solution in which the tendon is bathed and the speed of sound of the thread under examination is suggested.