The structural and biomechanical basis of the gain and loss of bone strength in women and men

Abstract

Structural failure (fracture) is a problem in biomechanics. Its solution resides, in part, in identifying the material and structural properties of bone that determine its mechanical resistance to structural failure. Bones must be stiff so that they do not bend when loaded, otherwise movement against gravity would not be possible. However, bones must also be flexible, otherwise their ability to absorb energy by elastic and plastic deformation will decrease and the energy imparted will be dissipated only by micro-damage or complete fracture. Thus, failure may occur if bones deform too much (exceeding their peak strain) or too little (exceeding their peak stress). Phylogeny and ontogeny make b..