Biomechanical contribution of trabecular bone in rat lower limb bones

Abstract

An X-ray microtomography-based finite element model was constructed from the rat tibia. The distal end of the tibia was completely restricted, and static loads were applied to the knee joint surface. The stress distribution of the tibia with or without a trabecula was determined (Fig. 1), assuming that bone elements were isotropic and elastic materials. Analytical results showed that there were more elements at high stress levels in the tibia model with the trabecula than in the model without it, indicative of the stress reducing efficacy of the trabecular structure.