[Mechanical properties of the bone tissue of the femur head]

The authors have perfected the method of determining the firmness of elastic biological tissues. The values of firmness of the cartilaginous and spongy tissues in radial directions and in normal planes have been studied including the directions that coincided with the action of the resultant force on the femoral head. It is possible to make a conclusion that areas possessing equal firmness are situated at the same distance from the centre of the joint, while the higher firmness areas alternate with the spherical lower firmness areas. A suggestion is made that such mechanical structure improves the properties of the femoral head.