A fractographic study of human long bone.
Based on the assumption that bone breaks where it is weakest, so that the fracture surface represents the weakest area locally, a fractographic study was made of a series of accidental and experimental fractures of human long bones. The architecture of the fracture surfaces as a whole, and of the local morphology of the fractured microstructure, was examined. This led to a classification of the fractographic features observed. Several quantitative characteristics of the experimental fracture surfaces were explored, including the number (no), volume fraction (po), and average cross-sectional area (Ao) of the osteons. These parameters were compared with the same data for cross-sections of the bone beneath the fracture surfaces. The results show a short-range fluctuation in the microstructural constitution of the diaphysis close to the fracture surface, with lower values of no, po and Ao at the fracture surface.
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Haworth
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques