Structure and mechanical quality of the collagen–mineral nano-composite in bone

A three-scale finite element investigation into the effects of tissue mineralisation and lamellar organisation in human cortical and trabecular bone

“…The mineral content of bone is known to vary with age (Augat and Schorlemmer 2006), anatomical location (Nazarian et al 2007) and the onset of osteoporosis (Brennan et al 2011a) meaning that tissue level mechanics must change accordingly. Moreover, the distribution of mineral in trabecular bone is non-uniform, with superficial regions generally being less mineralised due to the continuous remodelling of the outer surfaces of trabecular packets (Fratzl et al 2004;Brennan et al 2011a;Brennan et al 2011b). The results presented in Figure 5 highlight that it is this non-uniform distribution of mineral which contributes to the lower stiffness of trabecular bone compared to that of cortical bone.…”

“…Again, the mesh characteristics are similar to those previously described and the constitutive behaviour is initially assumed to be similar to cortical bone, whereby the mineral content is uniformly distributed over the crosssection of the trabeculae. However, due to the continuous remodelling process, it has been reported that the mineral content in trabecular struts is non-uniformly distributed over their cross-section (Fratzl et al 2004;Brennan et al 2011a;Brennan et al 2011b). Fratzl et al (2004) showed that in some superficial regions of trabeculae, the degree of mineralisation was almost half that of the centre region, due to the presence of newly formed tissue on the outer surfaces.…”

“…However, due to the continuous remodelling process, it has been reported that the mineral content in trabecular struts is non-uniformly distributed over their cross-section (Fratzl et al 2004;Brennan et al 2011a;Brennan et al 2011b). Fratzl et al (2004) showed that in some superficial regions of trabeculae, the degree of mineralisation was almost half that of the centre region, due to the presence of newly formed tissue on the outer surfaces. Hence, a non-uniform distribution of mineral is also analysed whereby the mineral volume fraction is assumed to decrease linearly from the centre lamella (MVF centre ) to the outer lamella (MVF outer ), where MVF outer = (0.65)MVF centre .…”

“…Hence, a non-uniform distribution of mineral is also analysed whereby the mineral volume fraction is assumed to decrease linearly from the centre lamella (MVF centre ) to the outer lamella (MVF outer ), where MVF outer = (0.65)MVF centre . For example, in the case that the centre lamella has an MVF centre = 40%, then the outer lamella has a MVF outer = 26% (Fratzl et al 2004). …”

Bone material properties in actively bone-forming trabeculae in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis after three years of treatment with once-yearly Zoledronic acid

“…(1) synthase (FPP synthase) and the greatest affinity for bone mineral to date. (3) In ovariectomized rats, it prevented estrogendeficient bone loss in vertebrae and showed a prominent protective effect against trabecular thinning.…”