Structure-function relationships incorporate anisotropy of soft tissues, to account for their direction-dependent loading response [1]. Empirical measures: fiber alignment and distribution have been used to describe soft tissue response due to cell-matrix interactions and applied loads [2, 3]. To complement these measures, noninvasive estimation of anisotropic mechanical properties is essential. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a noninvasive technique to obtain elastic properties form propagating shear waves [4]. Wave propagation patterns in MRE were found to vary with direction of tissue excitation and fiber orientation [5]. Accurate estimates of anisotropic elastic properties of soft tissues have yet to be obtained by MRE.

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