Engineering Transactions, 51, 2-3, pp. 113–193, 2003
10.24423/engtrans.485.2003

Adaptive Elasticity: A Review and Critique of a Bone Tissue Adaptation Model

S.C. Cowin
The New York Center for Biomedical Engineering and The Departments of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering The School of Engineering of The City College and The Graduate School of The City University of New York
United States

Living bone is continually undergoing processes of growth, reinforcement and resorption. These processes are termed collectively "remodelling". The remodelling processes in living bone are the mechanisms by which the bone adapts its histological structure to changes in long-term loading. The theory of adaptive elasticity was developed as a model for the mechanical load induced adaptation of bone. Ali three aspects of the theory of adaptive elasticity are reviewed here. These include internal adaptation, surface adaptation and architectural adaptation. The successes of the theory as well as the features of the theory that should now be revised are discussed.
Keywords: adaptive elasticity; bone; bone strain adaptation; internal remodelling; surface remodelling; architectural remodelling
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Copyright © Polish Academy of Sciences & Institute of Fundamental Technological Research (IPPT PAN).

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DOI: 10.24423/engtrans.485.2003