Microtubules in living cells are very important component for various cellular functions as well as to maintain the cell shape. Mechanical properties of microtubules play a vital role in their functions and structure. To understand the mechanical properties of microtubules in living cells, we developed an orthotropic-Pasternak model and investigated the vibrational behavior when microtubules are embedded in surrounding elastic medium. We considered microtubules as orthotropic elastic shell and its surrounding elastic matrix as Pasternak foundation. We found that due to mechanical coupling of microtubules with elastic medium, the flexural vibration is increased with the stiffening of elastic medium. We noticed that foundation modulus (H) and shear modulus (G) have more effect on radial vibrational mode as compared to longitudinal vibrational mode and torsional vibrational mode. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.