Research report 2004 - Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces

Trabecular bone remodeling

Authors
Weinkamer, Richard
Departments

Biomaterialien (Prof. Dr. Peter Fratzl)
MPI für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Potsdam

Summary
Living bone is continuously remodeled via resorption and deposition of small bone packets. This remodeling process is controlled by a mechanical feedback loop, which allows bone to adapt to varying mechanical requirements. Being experimentally difficult to access, the feedback loop is intensively studied using computer modeling. In the simulation it is possible to discriminate between changes in the bone structure due to either aging or disease. With a better understanding of the interrelation between the feedback loop and changes in the bone structure, there is hope that improved therapies act directly on the real reasons of bone diseases.

For the full text, see the German version.

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