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. 1999 May 3;145(3):589–604. doi: 10.1083/jcb.145.3.589

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(a) Phase contrast micrograph of a keratocyte engaged in steady state gliding locomotion on a silicone rubber substratum with embedded beads, in the direction indicated by the large arrow. Cell is outlined in white for clarity. (b) Traction map for the same cell. Each small arrow represents the magnitude and direction of the traction stress at the location corresponding to the tail of the arrow. (c) The same data as in b with “bootstrap” tractions. This statistical treatment of the data indicates graphically the level of confidence in the traction stresses after randomly generated noise is added to the bead displacements. The tighter the angular distribution of tractions, the better the level of confidence in the direction of the traction vector. (d) Differential interference contrast image of a keratocyte locomoting on a strongly cross-linked silicone rubber substratum. Note the large compression wrinkle beneath and parallel to the cell's axis of locomotion. The cell is moving forward in the direction shown by the arrow. Bars: 10 μm.