Mechanical factors in bone growth and development

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Carter, D. R.¹; Van der Meulen, M. C. H.¹; Beaupré, G. S.¹

Mechanical factors in bone growth and development

Bone. January 1996;18(1)(suppl 1):S5-S10

©1996 Elsevier Science Inc.

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanical Engineering Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

²Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Veterans Affairs Health System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Abstract and keywords

Mechanobiologic factors strongly influence skeletal ossification and regulate changes in bone geometry and apparent density during ontogeny. We have developed computer models that implement a simple mathematical rule relating cyclic tissue stresses to bone apposition and resorption. Beginning at the fetal stages of the femoral anlage, these models successfully predict the appositional bone growth and modeling observed in the development of the diaphyseal cross section. The same basic mechanobiologic rule can also predict the architectural construction of the proximal cancellous bone formed in regions of endochondral ossification. Geometry and density changes in adult diaphyseal cancellous bone as a result of changes in physical activity can be simulated by invoking the same rule used during development. Future clinical and experimental work is needed to provide more quantitative data for mechanobiologic rules and elucidate the interactions between chemical and mechanical factors influencing bone biology.

Keywords: Bone; Bone development; Bone adaptation; Mechanical adaptation; Mathematical modeling; Morphogenesis
Links

DOI: 10.1016/8756-3282(95)00373-8

PubMed: 8717541

WoS: A1996TT81200002

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