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Chondrocytes

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Mechanical Forces: Their Effects on Cells and Tissues

Part of the book series: Biotechnology Intelligence Unit ((BIOIU))

Abstract

Articular cartilage provides an impact-resistant, low-friction covering for the surface of joints. It is composed mainly of water, which is nearly incompressible, allowing it to support some of the heaviest loads in the body while remaining flexible. As such, cartilage must transmit and distribute forces generated by body weight and motion to the underlying bone. These forces are of considerable magnitude; the pressure exerted on articular cartilage in the hip while standing is estimated to be o.7 MPa, or approximately 7 atm.* This rough estimate compares favorably to experimental values of approximately 1 MPa measured for the human hip.1, 2 Peak pressures during loading would be expected to be much higher. The stress measured in the hip prosthesis of an elderly woman walking, for instance, cycled from atmospheric pressure (o.1 MPa) to nearly 4 MPa at a frequency of approximately 1 Hz.3 Stresses approaching zo MPa were measured when the same individual stood up from a chair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E-25-342, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Keith J. Gooch Ph.D.

  2. 6442 Amherst Avenue, 21046, Columbia, MD, USA

    Christopher J. Tennant

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  1. Keith J. Gooch Ph.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E-25-342, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Keith J. Gooch Ph.D.

  2. 6442 Amherst Avenue, 21046, Columbia, MD, USA

    Christopher J. Tennant

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gooch, K.J., Tennant, C.J. (1997). Chondrocytes. In: Gooch, K.J., Tennant, C.J. (eds) Mechanical Forces: Their Effects on Cells and Tissues. Biotechnology Intelligence Unit. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03420-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03420-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03422-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03420-0

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