A quantitative estimation of the divergence between the trabecular system and the stress trajectories in the upper end of the human femoral bone.

ABSTRACT

In the frame of the widely accepted theory that the internal architecture of the cancellous part of the bones is strongly influenced by the mechanical stresses that predominate inside them, a quantification of the convergence between the direction of the principal stresses and that of the trabeculae has been attempted, by measuring the angle between these 2 directions, in frontal sections of the upper end of a series of femoral bones (left and right), taken out from embalmed human cadavers. This study suggests that there is a fairly good convergence between trabeculae and stress (compressive as well as tensile), since the angles which have been measured have a mean value of +/- 7 degrees. It is further observed that this convergence is better (i.e. the angle is lesser) in those parts of the section where the corresponding stress (compressive or tensile) is greater. This result may prove particularly useful in connection to the effort of elucidating the mechanism that governs the influence of bone stress to osteogenesis.