Trabecular structure compared to stress trajectories in the proximal femur and the calcaneus.
The theory that the trabecular structure within bones follows the principal stress trajectories, is investigated by two-dimensional finite element models of increasing complexity. This is done for the proximal femur of the human and for the calcaneus of the horse. In both cases, a simple model with well-chosen loading and boundary conditions gives good agreement between the observed trabecular structure and the calculated stress trajectories. It is shown that this stress trajectory theory has a mechanically founded explanation.
Vander Sloten
J
J
Department of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
Van der Perre
G
G
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012984:Software; D013314:Stress, Mechanical