title: Mathematical foundations of biomechanics.
abstract: The aim of biomechanics is the analysis of the structure and function of humans, animals, and plants by means of the methods of mechanics. Its foundations are in particular embedded in mathematics, physics, and informatics. Due to the inherent multidisciplinary character deriving from its aim, biomechanics has numerous connections and overlapping areas with biology, biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology, along with clinical medicine, so its range is enormously wide. This treatise is mainly meant to serve as an introduction and overview for readers and students who intend to acquire a basic understanding of the mathematical principles and mechanics that constitute the foundation of biomechanics; accordingly, its contents are limited to basic theoretical principles of general validity and long-range significance. Selected examples are included that are representative for the problems treated in biomechanics. Although ultimate mathematical generality is not in the foreground, an attempt is made to derive the theory from basic principles. A concise and systematic formulation is thereby intended with the aim that the reader is provided with a working knowledge. It is assumed that he or she is familiar with the principles of calculus, vector analysis, and linear algebra.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland. niederer@biomed.ee.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Niederer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological