  We consider the spin-isospin-independent central part of the residual
nucleon-nucleon potential in finite spherical nuclei taking into account the
deformation effects of the nucleons within the surrounding nuclear environment.
It is shown that inside the nucleus the short-range repulsive contribution of
the potential is increased and the intermediate attraction is decreased. We
identify the growth of the radial component of the spin-isospin independent
short-range part of the in-medium nucleon-nucleon interaction as the
responsible agent that prevents the radial collapse of the nucleus.
