Biomechanical Properties of Skeletal Systems
Summary
Bone exhibits a remarkable combination of stiffness, strength and toughness that arises from its hierarchical organisation, spanning nanoscale collagen–mineral composites to macroscopic cortical and trabecular architectures. The dense cortical shell confers bending and torsional resistance, while the spongy trabecular network dissipates energy and redistributes loads. Mechanical properties vary regionally in response to habitual loading, with anisotropic arrangements of collagen fibres and microstructural elements such as osteons adapting through targeted remodelling. Strain‐driven feedback mechanisms regulate osteoblast and osteoclast activity to maintain optimal mass and geometry, minimising fracture risk. Advances in imaging, in vivo strain measurement and computational modelling have deepened understanding of how bones shape and reinforce themselves under tensile, compressive and torsional loads. These insights underpin applications in orthopaedic implant design, where matching stiffness and promoting osteointegration reduce stress shielding, and inform comparative and palaeontological studies that infer gait and behaviour from fossil bone structure. The global significance of this research extends to improving treatments for osteoporosis and fracture repair, designing bioinspired materials and enhancing animal welfare through informed exercise and housing strategies.
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Biomechanical Properties of Skeletal Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomechanical properties of skeletal systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Elastic modulus: Measure of material stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the linear elastic region.
Stress shielding: Reduction in physiological bone loading caused by a stiffer implant diverting stresses away from host bone.
Osteointegration: Stable and functional bonding between living bone and the surface of an artificial implant.
Cortical bone: Dense outer layer of bone that provides structural support and resistance to bending and torsion.
Trabecular bone: Porous, spongy inner bone that dissipates loads and houses marrow.
Strain magnitude: Degree of deformation experienced by a material under load, expressed as change in length per unit length.
Torsion: Twisting load that induces shear stresses and strains around the long axis of a bone.
References
- Reducing the prosthesis modulus by inclusion of an open space lattice improves osteogenic response in a sheep model of extraarticular defect. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2023).
- Roles of collagen cross-links and osteon collagen/lamellar morphotypes in equine third metacarpals in tension and compression tests. Journal of Experimental Biology (2024).
- Breed and loading history influence in vivo skeletal strain patterns in pre-pubertal female chickens. Bone (2023).
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