As a major component of the human body, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex biopolymer network. The ECM not only hosts a plethora of biochemical interactions but also defines the physical microenvironment of cells. The physical properties of the ECM, such as its geometry and mechanics, are critical to physiological processes and diseases such as morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer. This review provides a brief introduction to the recent progress in understanding the mechanics of ECM for researchers who are interested in learning about this relatively new subject of biophysics. This review covers the mechanics of a single ECM fiber (nanometer scale), the micromechanics of ECM (micrometer scale), and bulk rheology (greater than millimeter scale). Representative experimental measurements and basic theoretical models are introduced side by side. After discussing the physics of ECM mechanics, the review concludes by commenting on the role of ECM mechanics in healthy and tumorigenic tissues and the open questions that call for future studies at the interface of fundamental physics, engineering, and medical sciences.

作为人体的主要组成部分，细胞外基质 (ECM) 是一个复杂的生物聚合物网络。ECM 不仅承载大量的生化相互作用，而且还定义了细胞的物理微环境。ECM 的物理特性，例如其几何形状和力学，对生理过程和疾病（例如形态发生、伤口愈合和癌症）至关重要。本综述简要介绍了最近在理解 ECM 机制方面取得的进展，供有兴趣了解这一相对较新的生物物理学学科的研究人员使用。这篇综述涵盖了单根 ECM 纤维的力学（纳米级）、ECM 的微观力学（微米级）和体积流变学（大于毫米级）。代表性的实验测量和基本理论模型并排介绍。在讨论了 ECM 力学的物理学之后，该评论最后评论了 ECM 力学在健康和致瘤组织中的作用，以及需要在基础物理学、工程学和医学科学的界面进行未来研究的开放性问题。