The most important experimental methods of studying the mechanical properties of cells, as well as the most common rheological models, among which the discrete models of the micro/nanostructure of the cell and continuous models that allow calculating the modulus of elasticity and viscosity of the cell in normal and pathological conditions are discussed. A review of continuous models is given with an indication of their features and differences. A new continuum model of the cell as a multi-layer

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... shell filled with a viscoelastic fluid is proposed. Equations of the model and their solutions for cases of isotonic, isometric and dynamic experiments are obtained. Peculiarities of the mechanical behavior of the models depending on the identified parameters are investigated. A comparison with the data of experimental measurements is given. It is shown that the proposed multi-layer model allows evaluation of separate contribution of the mechanical properties of the cytoskeleton, membrane, adsorbed substances and the hydrated shell, which is important for clinical diagnosis of diseases by measuring the mechanical parameters of cells.