Figure 4. Simulation and μCT-validation of CPA distribution in the whole meniscus and TMJ disc.

(A) Simulation for CPA concentration through a 3D whole meniscus model after 3-hour VS55 loading (left); its transverse sections at half thickness from the model (middle) and experimental μCT data (right). Concentration profiles (black lines) on both transverse and sagittal sections of the anterior (A), central (C), and posterior (P) horns are shown in (B) and (C), respectively. Simulated profiles after 120-min (red), 180-min (blue), and 240-min (green) loading periods using modeling (D=3.82×10⁻¹⁰ m²/s). Experimental μCT data (black circle with line) after a 180-min CPA loading align well with simulation data. The x-axis represents the distance normalized by its actual length. (D) Simulation for CPA concentration through a 3D whole TMJ disc model after 3-hour VS55 loading (left). Red dashed area in the inferior view (left top) represents the TMJ disc: anterior (A), central (C), posterior (P), medial (M), and lateral (L). Sagittal sections of three bands (A-M-P, A-C-P, and A-L-P) represent CPA concentrations with average values of 82.22%, 82.20% and 82.29% respectively (right). (E) CPA concentrations from μCT data across TMJ discs (N=3, n=9 for each region; N=3, n=45 for whole disc average) after 3-hour loading. N = number of independent discs; n = number of measurements. No significance in different regions observed using a one-way ANOVA. Data are mean ± SD.