The past two decades reveal a growing role of continuum biomechanics in understanding homeostasis, adaptation, and disease progression in soft tissues. In this paper, we briefly review the two primary theoretical approaches for describing mechano-regulated soft tissue growth and remodeling on the continuum level as well as hybrid approaches that attempt to combine the advantages of these two approaches while avoiding their disadvantages. We also discuss emerging concepts, including that of mechanobiological stability. Moreover, to motivate and put into context the different theoretical approaches, we briefly review findings from mechanobiology that show the importance of mass turnover and the prestressing of both extant and new extracellular matrix in most cases of growth and remodeling. For illustrative purposes, these concepts and findings are discussed, in large part, within the context of two load-bearing, collagen dominated soft tissues—tendons/ligaments and blood vessels. We conclude by emphasizing further examples, needs, and opportunities in this exciting field of modeling soft tissues.

中文翻译：

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承重生物软组织的生长与重塑

过去的二十年揭示了连续生物力学在理解软组织的稳态、适应和疾病进展方面的作用越来越大。在本文中，我们简要回顾了在连续体水平上描述机械调节软组织生长和重塑的两种主要理论方法，以及试图结合这两种方法的优点同时避免其缺点的混合方法。我们还讨论了新兴概念，包括机械生物学稳定性。此外，为了激励和结合不同的理论方法，我们简要回顾了机械生物学的发现，这些发现表明在大多数生长和重塑的情况下，质量周转和现存和新细胞外基质的预应力的重要性。出于说明目的，这些概念和发现在很大程度上是在两个承重、胶原蛋白主导的软组织——肌腱/韧带和血管的背景下进行讨论的。最后，我们将强调这个令人兴奋的软组织建模领域中的更多示例、需求和机会。