Age-related changes in the density and tensile strength of human femoral cortical bone

Wall, J. C.; Chatterji, S. K.; Jeffery, J. W.

Affiliations

¹Crystallography Department, Birkbeck College, London, England

Abstract and keywords

In order to ascertain whether the intrinsic strength of human bone changes with age or not, we have determined the ultimate tensile strength and density of strips of femoral cortical bone. These femora were collected from cadavers varying in age from 13 to 97 years. The results show that both density and intrinsic strength of bone increase up to about the fourth decade of life and then decrease with age. However, the rate of decrease of strength is greater than that of density. This indicates that the density of bone is not the sole determining factor of its strength, and that some other factors play an important part.

Keywords: Bone; Femur; Strength; Density; Age

Links

DOI: 10.1007/BF02441170

PubMed: 110411

WoS: A1979GY68900004

History

Received: 1977-09-26

Revised: 1978=11-17

Accepted: 1978-11-20

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