Average refractive index of tendon as a function of water content

Experimental data on the dependence of the average refractive index of rat tail tendon (RTT) on water content are reported. Using optical coherence tomography, the average group refractive index (at a wavelength of 930 nm) and cross-section area of rat tail tendon fascicle specimens during their air-drying and rehydration were monitored. The dependence of the average group refractive index of RTT (ng) on the volume fraction of water (Cw) has been found to be nonlinear and to be well approximated by the quadratic polynomial ng = 1.5713 – 0.1969Cw– 0.0328(Cw)2. The reported data are shown to be in good agreement with previously published data for bovine cornea.