Figure. 23.

Different phenomenological models commonly used to describe cell mechanics. (a) Voigt element as one possible representation of mechanical equivalent circuits that combine springs and dashpots in various arrangements. (b) The tensegrity model describes the cell as a pre-stressed network consisting of cables and struts. (c) The soft glassy rheology models assume a complex energy landscape with wells of different depth ΔE such that spontaneous transitions form one to another well have a very low probability.