Fundamentals of biomechanics in tissue engineering of bone

The objective of this review is to provide basic information pertaining to biomechanical aspects of bone as they relate to tissue engineering. The rev iew is written for the general tissue engineering reader, who may not have a biomechanical engineering background. To this end, biomechanical characte ristics and properties of normal and repair cortical and cancellous bone ar e presented. Also, this chapter intends to describe basic structure-functio n relationships of these two types of bone. Special emphasis is placed on s alient classical and modern testing methods, with both material and structu ral properties described.