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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2014 Oct 2;14(3):589–602. doi: 10.1007/s10237-014-0624-2

Figure 9. Schematic Representation of the Global and Local Coordinate System within a Cell.

Figure 9

(a) Under 3D conditions, the external forces act against the cell but improve the microenvironment for function, such as cardiomyocyte shortening. (b) Global components are divided into local components in their respective x, y and z elements. (c) The global and local coordinate system is used to relate the external environment to the internal forces and displacement to determine the stability of the cell. (d, e) The resultant force acting upon a focal adhesion is localized differently in a cell configured in two- compared to three- dimensions.