Mechanical Properties of Cross Section of Lower Limb Long Bones in Jomon Man

Abstract

The cross sections at the mid-length of the Jomon lower limb bones, that is, the femur, the tibia and the fibula, were measured to obtain their geometric and mechanical properties, such as the cross-sectional area and the moment of inertia of area. The Jomon bones were compared with those of the recent Japanese which were reported already. The cross section of the Jomon bones resisted strongly against the bending moment in the anteroposterior direction without changing greatly the volume of the bone substance. The flatness and the robusticity of the bone were discussed in regard to the difference between the measurements from the outside and from the distribution of the substance inside the bone. The importance of the inside measurement was pointed out.