Fig. 2.

(i) For combined loading: (top row) Lateral radiographic views (created from the μCT scans) at six consecutive loading increments labeled with letters A–F on the force-displacement curve at the bottom right; (middle row) 3D rendering of a sagittal half-section of the T₈ vertebral body at the current load increment (blue; the increment corresponds to the lateral radiographic view above) registered against the rendering prior to loading (gray); (bottom row) For increments A–C, three-quarter section views of the displacement map showing displacement in the axial direction (positive values indicate downward displacement); (ii) Same presentation as in (i), but for compression loading. The force-displacement curves in (i) and (ii), and the moment-angle curve in (i) depict the values of axial force, flexion moment, axial displacement and angular displacement applied to the entire T₇–T₉ spine segment, as opposed to those applied or experienced only in T₈. The specimens shown in (i) and (ii) are each representative for the loading mode.