Investigating the Link Between Mechanics and Bone: A Local Approach to a Multi-Scale System

Abstract

Bone,the organic material which skeletons are comprised of, allows all species of vertebrates to support themselves against the forces of gravity, engage in locomotion,protect soft internal organs, and a wide variety of other functions depending on the species. The organ is composed of three cell types which work in harmony to continually renew and repair the bone tissue over a lifespan. When the metabolic process of bone remodeling is disturbed, the imbalance leads the organ to create or remove bone incorrectly. Currently it is believed that exercise, technically termed as mechanical loading, also plays a key role in the process of bone remodeling. While the detailed mechanics of exactly how this takes place are still unclear, numerous studies have shown that bone tissue is resorbed when loading is reduced, leading to structural instability and ultimately fracture. The aim of this thesis is to investigate a small portion of the mechano-regulated bone remodeling process at the cellular level and place it into a larger context of the organ.