A multiscale theoretical investigation of electric measurements in living bone : piezoelectricity and electrokinetics

Bull Math Biol. 2011 Nov;73(11):2649-77. doi: 10.1007/s11538-011-9641-9. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the multiphysical phenomena that govern cortical bone behaviour. Taking into account the piezoelectricity of the collagen-apatite matrix and the electrokinetics governing the interstitial fluid movement, we adopt a multiscale approach to derive a coupled poroelastic model of cortical tissue. Following how the phenomena propagate from the microscale to the tissue scale, we are able to determine the nature of macroscopically observed electric phenomena in bone.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apatites / metabolism
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Bone Matrix / physiology
  • Bone and Bones / physiology*
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Elasticity
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Ion Transport
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Models, Biological
  • Porosity

Substances

  • Apatites
  • Collagen