Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion
Published on: April 11, 2018
Bone strength in children: understanding basic bone biomechanics
Lydia Forestier-Zhang1, Nick Bishop2
1Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK Academic Unit of Child Health, Department of Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Insights
Bone strength, crucial for fracture resistance in children, involves complex biomechanical properties. Understanding these intrinsic and extrinsic factors aids in evaluating injury mechanisms and underlying bone integrity.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering
- Skeletal Biology and Biomechanics
Background:
- Bone strength is a critical factor in determining fracture risk in children.
- Bone integrity is a complex interplay of multiple structural and biomechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define bone strength and its key biomechanical properties.
- To elucidate the significance of intrinsic and extrinsic biomechanical properties in fracture resistance.
- To highlight the clinical utility of understanding bone biomechanics in pediatric fracture evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of biomechanical principles related to bone.
- Definition of intrinsic (tissue-level) and extrinsic (structural-level) biomechanical properties.
- Conceptual framework for evaluating bone strength in clinical contexts.
Main Results:
- Bone strength is determined by intrinsic properties (stiffness, toughness, ductility, mechanical strength) and extrinsic properties (structural behavior).
- A delicate balance between opposing biomechanical properties is essential for effective fracture resistance.
- Understanding these properties aids in identifying the injury mechanism and assessing reduced fracture resistance in pediatric fractures.
Conclusions:
- Bone strength is a multifaceted concept encompassing various biomechanical properties at different structural levels.
- The interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic biomechanical properties is fundamental to bone's resistance to fracture.
- Knowledge of bone biomechanics is vital for clinicians assessing pediatric fractures and potential underlying skeletal issues.
Abstract:
The term 'bone strength' is often used to explain why some children's bones fracture while others do not. Bone strength describes the general integrity of bone; a complex organ with multiple structural levels and an array of biomechanical properties. Key biomechanical properties of bone include stiffness, toughness, ductility and mechanical strength. When measured in bone tissue, these properties are known as the intrinsic biomechanical properties of bone, while the extrinsic biomechanical properties reflect the structural behaviour of a whole bone. The fine balance between various and often opposing intrinsic and extrinsic biomechanical properties of bone is crucial for fracture resistance. When clinically evaluating a child with a fracture, an understanding of basic bone biomechanics helps determine the likely mechanism of injury and whether underlying reduced fracture resistance exists.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Introduction to the Skeletal System
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
01:29Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into ...
01:27Compact Bone
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
01:09Spongy Bone
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...
01:23Bone as Supporting Connective Tissue
Bone Matrix
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a connective tissue that has a large amount of two different types of matrix material. The organic matrix is similar to the matrix material found in other connective tissues, including some amount of collagen and elastic fibers. This gives strength and flexibility to the tissue. The inorganic matrix consists of mineral salts— mostly calcium salts—...
01:24Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification