Fig. 2. (A) A high magnification view of a Snelson sculpture with sample compression and tension elements labeled to visualize the tensegrity force balance based on local compression and continuous tension. (B) A schematic diagram of the complementary force balance between tensed microfilaments (MFs), intermediate filaments (IFs), compressed microtubules (MTs) and the ECM in a region of a cellular tensegrity array. Compressive forces borne by microtubules (top) are transferred to ECM adhesions when microtubules are disrupted (bottom), thereby increasing substrate traction.