Tissue Mechanics Bone

Bone is the primary structural element of the body

Self-repairing

Alters properties and geometry in response to mechanical

demands

Simpler structure (whole bone properties) makes it better

known in relation to its (bone tissue) material properties

Long (major bones of arms and legs)

Short (phalanges, metacarpals and metatarsals)

Both long & short bones are characterized by tubular shafts

and articular surfaces at each end
Flat (ribs, sternum)

Thin bones with a broad surface

Irregular (vertebral column and patella)

Generally compact, variable shape and size

Microscopic Bone : Woven vs. Lamellar

Woven = immature

Primary, coarse collagen fibers with non-uniform orientation

Actively resorbed by 1 year

Isotropic Mechanical Characteristics

Lamellar results from remodeling of woven bone

Highly organized stress-oriented collagen, anisotropic

Organized into layers called lamellae

Bone Tissue : Cortical

Cortical = dense, compact

4x mass of trabecular bone, lower

turnover

Subjected to bending; exhibits

torsion & compressive strength

Type I compact bone (layers of

lamellae, small animals)

Type II plexiform bone (layers of

lamellar & woven, large animals)

Type III Haversian (vascular

channels surrounded by lamellae)

Haversian System is comprised of a

Haversian canal, concentric lamellae,
lacunae with osteocytes and canaliculi.
Separate Haversian systems are
joined to each other by means of
interstitial lamellae.

Bone Tissue: Trabecular

Trabecular = spongy, cancellous

Internal beams form 3D lattice aligned along applications of

stress, exhibits mostly compressive strength

Lamellae are not arranged in layers, interstitial

Spaces between trabeculae contain marrow and blood vessels

Lacunae house osteocytes

Bone Cells

Osteoblasts produces type I collagen

Lie in initial, nonmineralized bone

Osteocytes mature osteoblasts in lacunae surrounded by

mineralized matrix

Most numerous

Communicate strain/stress signals

Regulate overall metabolism of bone

Osteoclasts major resorptive cells

Located on bone surface

Bind to bone surface, lower pH of local environment thru H2 ion

increases solubility of local HA

Bone Structure

Biomechanical Behavior of Bone

Cortical Bone

Elastic Behavior typically treated as transversely isotropic

(compression > tension)

Viscoelastic Behavior strain rate sensitivity

Typical daily activities, strain rate < 0.03%/sec

Trauma = 0.10%/sec

Trabecular Bone

Elastic Behavior depends on anatomic site

Age, connectivity

Viscoelastic Behavior strain rate sensitive, age effects

Modulus and strength weakly dependent upon strain rate