Figure 7. Anisotropy of backscattered light, AF_⊥(500 nm) (A) and AF_II(500 nm) (B), during loading and unloading of a representative tendon sample.

Maximal strain of 13.4% was achieved in this tendon with the maximum of applied load, 6 kN. After unloading, residual extension of the tendon was equal to 5.4% of its length at the beginning of the load application.