ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the elements that are necessary to later consider the biomechanical issues in a porous media perspective. It explores the electro-chemomechanical couplings in tissues with a fixed charge. The book focuses on articular cartilages, on the corneal stroma and, in a minor mode, on the intervertebral disc. It addresses issues regarding growth of biological tissues. The book also addresses linear elasticity but lays emphasis on the anisotropic properties of soft tissues and on their conewise constitutive response, a large part of tissues being reinforced by collagen. It explores thermal aspects in both solid and porous media contexts.
