Blemker, Silvia Salinas
Primary Appointment
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Education
- BS,MS, Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
- PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Contact Information
PO Box 400746
MR5 2133
Telephone: 434 924-6291
Email: ssb6n@virginia.edu
Website: http://www.mae.virginia.edu/muscle/
Research Disciplines
Biotechnology, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Research Interests
Muscle structure, mechanical properties, biology and function.
Research Description
Skeletal muscles are the motors for all of the wide range of voluntary movements. Each muscle's properties are beautifully tuned or "designed" for a specific function in the body. This tuning is achieved through variations in several structural components of muscle and can be easily disrupted by misuse or disease. The goal of our research is to identify the principles of muscle design by characterizing the relationships between muscle structure, mechanical properties, biology, and function. We are applying these findings to understanding and improving the treatments for musculoskeletal impairments associated with movement disorders, such as cerebral palsy.
We are integrating a variety of computational and experimental approaches to achieve this goal. We create computational models of the musculoskeletal system that describe the complex three-dimensional architecture and geometry of muscles. We also develop nonlinear constitutive relationships for muscle that represent the properties of muscle cells and extra-cellular connective tissues. We use dynamic magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study the deformation and motion of muscles during joint movement. We perform anatomical measurements and tissue testing to characterize the arrangements of proteins in muscle and to determine the material properties of muscle tissue.