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Figure 2


Fig. 1. Application of force to a cell. (A) Cells can be exposed to multiple types of forces, such as shear forces through fluid flow over the cell, tensile forces acting through the ECM, and cytoskeletally generated contractile forces. Depicted is a single cell attached to a complex ECM (illustrated as a multicolored fabric). (B) Close-up of a focal adhesion showing the balance of external and internal forces (Fext and Fcell, respectively) in driving stress at a mechanosensor. Depicted are actin stress fibers (red) anchored into focal adhesions (multicolored array of proteins) that bind to the ECM (blue) through integrins (brown). (C) This balance of forces provides the stress necessary for mechanical sensing.





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