Semester 1: Mechanics & Biomechanics Flashcards
What is the multiplication factor for the prefix mega?
10^6
What is the multiplication factor for the prefix kilo?
10^3
What is the multiplication factor for the prefix centi?
10^-2
What is the multiplication factor for the prefix mili?
10^-3
What is the multiplication factor for the prefix micro?
10^-6
Define Scalar quantity
Magnitude only
Define Vector quantity
Magnitude and direction
Give examples of Scalars
Distance Speed Angle Rotation Rate Mass Temperature Energy
Give examples of Vectors
Displacement Velocity Angular Displacement Angular Velocity Force Momentum Acceleration
Conversion of degrees celsius to kelvin?
Add 273
Define speed
Rate of change of distance travelled
Define velocity
Rate of change of displacement
What is the equation used to calculate average velocity?
Average velocity (m/s) = change in displacement / time
Define acceleration
Rate of change of velocity
What is the equation used to calculate average acceleration?
Average acceleration (m/s^2) = change in velocity (m/s) / time taken (s)
What is the term given when change in velocity is negative?
Deceleration
What two effects do forces have on an object?
Change the position and deform the shape
What is the SI unit of force?
Newton
Define static in the context of mechanics
Forces and moments acting upon objects that are either stationary or have a constant velocity i.e. not accelerating
Define static equilibrium in the context of mechanics
A static object with no resultant force (or moment) acting on it
Define translational equilibrium in the context of mechanics
A static equilibrium achieved along straight lines, where the sum of all the external forces along the direction of each axis equals 0 and therefore no resultant force acts upon the object
What is Newton’s Third Law?
To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Define mass
Quantity of matter of which a body is composed
Define weight
Force of gravity acting upon a body
What is the SI unit of mass?
Kilogram
What is the SI unit if weight?
Newton
Define density
Mass per unit volume
What is the greek character for density?
Rho, ρ
What is the SI unit of density?
Kg/m^3
If mass changes proportional to volume and vice versa. What will happen to density of a material if mass or volume where to change?
Density of a material remains constant. If mass of an object varies then the volume of the object will change proportionally.
Define gravity
Acceleration due to gravitational attraction between two bodies
What is the equation used to calculate weight?
Weight (N) = mass (kg) X acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s^2)
What is the force of the Earth’s gravitational field?
9.81 m/s^2 (sometimes approximated to 10m/s^2)
Where does the centre of mass lie when an individual is standing upright?
Lower abdomen
Where does the centre of mass lie when an individual is bent over?
Lie out with the body in front of the pelvis
Define pressure
Force exerted per unit area
What is the equation used for calculating Pressure?
Pressure (Pascals or N/m^2) = Force (N) /Area (m^2)
Define a moment
Tendency of a force to produce a rotation about an axis (Centre of rotation)
What is another term for moment?
Torque
What is the SI unit for moment?
Newton meters (N m)
Define moment arm
The perpendicular distance from an axis (centre of rotation) to the line of action of a force
What is the equation used to calculate the moment of a force?
Moment, M (N m) = Force (N) X Moment arm (m)
Define rotational equilibrium
Sum of all external moments acting about the axes equal 0
Define the effort arm of a lever system
The length of the line that passes through the fulcrum and is perpendicular to the effort force
Define the resistance arm of a lever system
The length of the line that passes through the fulcrum and is perpendicular to the resistance force
If in a Lever system the effort arm is greater than the resistance arm is the system considered mechanically advantaged or disadvantaged?
Mechanical advantage
If in a Lever system the effort arm is smaller than the resistance arm is the system considered mechanically advantaged or disadvantaged?
Mechanical disadvantage
Define mechanical advantage in a lever system
Magnitude of the force required to overcome a given resistance force is smaller than the magnitude of the resistance force
Define mechanical disadvantage in a lever system
Magnitude of the force required to overcome a given resistance force is larger than the magnitude of the resistance force
In the human body are muscles typically mechanically advantaged or disadvantages in the context of a lever system
Typically disadvantaged because magnitude of the force required to overcome a given resistance force is larger than the magnitude of the resistance force
How is mechanical advantage in the context of a lever system calculated?
As a ratio of the effort arm to the resistance arm
Therefore, if greater than 1 the system is deemed to be at a mechanical advantage
What is the equation used to calculate the mechanical advantage of a lever system?
Mechanical advantage = Effort arm / Resistance arm
Define a first class lever with examples
Fulcrum is located between the effort and the resistance e.g. scissors, crowbar and see-saw
Define a second class lever with examples
Resistance is located between the effort and the fulcrum e.g. wheelbarrow, nutcracker
Do first class lever systems work at a mechanical advantage or disadvantage?
Either mechanical advantage or disadvantage
Do second class lever systems work at a mechanical advantage or disadvantage?
Always a mechanical advantage
Define a third class lever with examples
Effort is located between the fulcrum and the resistance e.g. fishing rod and tweezers
Do third class lever systems work at a mechanical advantage or disadvantage?
Always a mechanical disadvantage
What is the most common lever class seen in the human body?
Third class
What is the unit of pressure?
Pascals or N m^-2
What are the four types of tissue groups?
Epithelial
Muscle
Connective
Nervous
What is the most abundant tissue type in the human body?
Connective tissue
What is the role of connective tissue in the human body?
It is specialised to protect and support the body and its organs, connect and hold them together and to transport substances throughout the body.
What are the four main types of connective tissue?
Bone, Articular Cartilage, Tendon and Ligament
What are the hardest tissues in the human body?
Dentine and Enamel, followed by bone
What are the main types of bone?
Flat bones, Long bones, Short bones, Irregular bones and Sesamoid bones
What cells form bone?
Osteocytes
What makes up the non-cellular organic component of bone?
Type I Collagen fibres (95%) in a jelly-like ground substance (5%)
What percentage of the dry weight of bone is non-cellular organic and inorganic?
Non-cellular organic: 25-30%
Inorganic: 65-70%
What makes up the inorganic component of bone?
Calcium phosphate crystals
What is the difference between compact and cancellous bone types?
Compact (Cortical) - forms the outer layer of bones and is dense.
Cancellous (Spongy) - forms the inner part of bones and has a characteristic mesh-like structure which align themselves in the direction that will best support the load.
What is the basic structural unit in compact bone?
Haversian system
Explain the structure of the Haversian system?
A small central channel called the Haversian canal which contains blood vessels and nerve fibres. Bone tissue surrounding the canal are arranged in layers called lamellae. Cavities between the lamellae known as lacunae, which contain osteocytes. The osteocytes are connected to the Haversian canal and other lacunae by channels called canaliculi.
Where do the blood vessels and nerves run in bone?
Haversian canal
What are the layers surrounding the Haversian canal called?
Lamellae
Where are osteocytes located in bone?
Lacunae
What is the main difference between the microstructure of cortical and cancellous bone?
Cortical bone arranged via the Haversian system
Cancellous bone has no need for Haversian canals as blood vessels pass through marrow filled spaces
What is the basic structural unit in cancellous bone?
Trabeculae
Define tension
When the load is acting to stretch a material
Define compression
When the load is acting to compress the material
Define stress
Force per cross-sectional area
What is the SI unit for Stress?
N m^-2
What is the equation used to calculate Stress?
Stress = Force / Area
Define strain
Change in length divided by the original length
What is the relationship between stress and strain for cortical bone?
Stress increases with increasing strain
What are the two regions of a stress-strain curve called?
- Elastic region
2. Plastic region
What marks the division between the elastic and plastic regions of the stress-strain curve?
Yield point
How are the yield strain and yield stress determined from the stress-strain curve?
Strain at the yield point is termed yield strain
Stress at the yield point is termed yield stress
Define Elastic behaviour
Occurs in the elastic region of the stress-strain curve. The amount of stress is directly proportional to the amount of strain. When a load is removed the material will return to its original shape and size.
Define Plastic behaviour
Occurs in the plastic region of the stress-strain curve. A small increase in stress leads to a large amount of bone deformation. When a load is removed the material is permanently deformed.
What is the stress and strain at which bone fractures on the stress-strain curve called?
The ultimate strain and ultimate stress
What is Young’s modulus?
A constant that can be used to calculate stress or strain.
What is the equation for calculating Young’s modulus?
Young’s Modulus = Stress / Strain
What is the SI units for Young’s modulus?
N m^-2
What does a low Young’s modulus tell you about the flexibility of the material?
Very flexible
What does a high Young’s modulus tell you about the flexibility of the material?
Very stiff
Define a shear loading?
Two forces acting in opposite directions causing layers within a material to slip
Arrange the following from highest to lowest ultimate strength (the point at which stress from a loading force causes the bone to fracture) in cortical bone?
- Tension
- Compression
- Shear
- Compression
- Tension
- Shear
Define Ultimate strength of bone
The point at which stress from a loading force causes the bone to fracture
What are the two types of bending loading?
Cantilever
Three-point
Define Cantilever bending loading
One end of the object is fixed and the load is applied to the other end causing it to bend
Define Three-point bending loading
Three forces are applied to the object causing it to bend
What is the neutral axis of an object undergoing bending loading?
The axis along which no deformation occurs
How does the loading differ on either side of the neutral axis when an object undergoes bending loading?
On one side of the neutral axis the material is elongated and on the other it is compressed. The strain is at its maximum at the surfaces since elongation and compression is greatest there.
What features of long bones maximises their strength to weight ration?
Long bones are hollow with strong cortical bone forming the outer layer. The bone is able to resist torsional stress without being too thin (liable to breaking) or too heavy (no increase in ability to withstand torsional stress).
What is Wolff’s Law?
Bone is laid down where needed and resorbed where not needed.
How does bone change in response to stress?
Lays does collagen fibres and mineral salts to strengthen the bone.
How does bone respond to inactivity?
Bone atrophy occurs in which bone tissue is resorption. .
Define stress shielding?
When the load is carried by a plate rather than the bones itself causing unstressed bone to resorbed.
What happens to bone at the site of the screws when internal fixation via an onlay device takes place?
The bone will strenghten as a greater load is carried at these sites, and bone hypertrophy will occur.
Define a fatigue/stress fracture
A fracture resulting from the repeated application of a load that is smaller than the ultimate strength of the bone
What is the common mechanism of injury resulting in a fatigue/stress fracture?
Continuous periods of strenuous physical activity, as frequency of repetition occurs too fast thus not allowing the appropriate remodelling process.
Describe the balance between bone tissue formation and resorption in children.
More bone tissue formation in children allowing for growth and development.
How does proportion of collagen in children’s bones differ from that of adults?
There is more collagen in the bones of children allowing for greater flexibility.
What type of fractures are common in children due to excessive bending or torsion of the bones?
Green stick fractures.
How is cancellous bone tissue affected by ageing?
There is thinning of the bone due to resorption of the transverse and longitudinal trabecular.
What are the three types of cartilage?
Hyaline, elastic and fibrocartilage.
Name an example of hyaline cartilage in the human body?
The articular surfaces of synovial joints and the tip of the nose.
Name an example of elastic cartilage in the human body?
The external ear and the epiglottis.
Name an example of fibrocartilage in the human body?
Symphysis pubis and the intervertebral discs.
What is the role of chondrocytes?
Manufacture, secrete and maintain the organic matrix which is mainly made up of collagen.
What is the name and function of the of protein that collagen fibrils are enmeshed in?
Proteoglycans.
What are the three zones of articular cartilage?
Superficial tangential, middle and deep.
Describe the structure of the superficial tangential zone?
Collagen fibrils are tightly packed and parallel to the articular surface. Chondrocytes are oblong and their longitudinal axis are parallel to the articular surface.
Describe the structure of the middle zone?
Collagen fibrils (though still broadly parallel to the articular surface) are more random in placement to accommodate proteoglycans. The chondrocytes are round and randomly distributed.
Describe the structure of the deep zone?
The collagen fibrils are arranged in large fibre bundles that are anchored to the bone tissue connecting the articular cartilage to the bone. Chondrocytes are in loose columns perpendicular to the line that divides the articular cartilage and the underlying bone.
What is the interface between the articular cartilage and the calcified cartilage beneath it called?
The Tidemark
How is articular cartilage attached to bone?
Via the bundles of collagen fibrils in the deep layer attaching the articular cartilage to the underlying bone tissue.
How can one describe the mechanical behaviour of articular cartilage?
Viscoelastic.
Define viscoelastic mechanical behaviour.
Response of the material varies according to length of time load is applied and the rate at which the load is applied.
What are the two main characteristics of viscoelastic materials?
Creep and stress relaxation.
Define creep in the context of viscoelastic mechanical behaviour.
Creep is an increase in strain under a constant stress. Continuing lengthening of a material over time when a constant load is applied.
Define stress relaxation in the context of viscoelastic mechanical behaviour?
Stress relaxation is a reduction in stress under a constant strain. Caused by the rearrangement of atoms in the atomic structure of the material.
Why does the amount of stress required to maintain deformation in stress relaxation diminish over time?
During the initial deformation fluid is expelled for the articular cartilage. Fluid moving over a solid matrix will create friction, so more stress will be required to cause deformation. After a certain amount of time (once the fluid has reached equilibrium) there will be no friction due to the flow of fluid. This will reduce the amount of stress required to maintain deformation.
What are the two factors that effect the lubrication of a synovial joint?
The magnitude of the load on the joint pressing the two surfaces together and the length of time that this load is maintained.
What are the three types of lubrication?
Elastohydrodynamic lubrication; Boosted lubrication; Boundary lubrication
What factors determine the dominant type of lubrication?
Variations in the loading in different parts of the joint; and variation in anatomy.
Define elastohydrodynamic lubrication.
It occurs when two surfaces one of which is deformable are lubricated by a film of fluid as they move relative to one another.
What are the two ways in which surfaces can move relative to one another in the context of elastohydrodynamic lubrication?
Slide over each other (this is called hydrodynamic lubrication); they can also move closer together (known as squeeze film lubrication.
Describe how the pressure is distributed between two soft surfaces in the context of lubrication.
Pressure distribution is increased over the deformed surface as a consequence the magnitude of the pressure is decreased and the film remains relatively thick. This is elastohydrodynamic lubrication.
Explain how boosted lubrication works?
When two articulating surfaces are squeezed together the fluid will be pushed towards the edges of the joint. The resistance to the sideways flow of lubricant becomes greater the the resistance to the flow of small molecules (such as water) into the articular cartilage. This leaves behind a viscous gel that is able to support large loads.
What type of lubrication occurs when fluid film is completely depleted?
Boundary lubrication
In the human synovial joint what protein coats the articular surface when the fluid film is completely depleted?
Lubricin
What is the structure called when lubricant molecules attach themselves chemically to the surfaces of joints? What are the properties of this structure?
Boundary layer - low sheer strength - offering a lower friction than the bare surfaces.
How does the arrangement of collagen fibre differ in tendons and ligaments?
In tendons the fibres are arranged in parallel as they need to withstand large loads in one direction. In ligaments the collagen fibres are interwoven and branched as (though they need to withstand a large load primarily in one direction) they need to withstand smaller loads in other direction.
What is the normal physiological range of joint displacement at the knee?
Around 4mm the ligament remains undamaged. Beyond 4mm to 7mm the loading will result in injury as the collagen fibres progressively rupture leading to more joint pain and joint instability. Beyond 7mm the anterior cruciate ligament will fail.
State two functions of the joints in the lower limb.
Two functions of the joints in the lower limb are weight bearing and movement.
What are the ball and socket in the hip joint?
The head of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvic girdle respectively.
How many direction of rotation are there at the hip joint?
Three: flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, and internal and external rotation.
What is circumduction in the hip joint?
When the femur is able to move in a circle relative to the pelvis.
Describe the structure of the synovial joint?
The surfaces of the bones are covered in articular cartilage. The joints are enclosed by the fibrous joint capsule forming the synovial cavity. This is filled with synovial fluid which lubricates and provides articular cartilage with nutrients.
Why is the hip joint intrinsically stable?
The joint is surrounded by a strong joint capsule and several ligaments. These are in turn are surrounded by strong muscles. This and the ball and socket shape of the joint all contribute to the intrinsic stability of the hip joint.
In which plane does the hip joint have the greatest range of motion?
The sagittal plane.
What is the range of motion of the hip joint in the sagittal plane?
Flexion 0 - 140 degrees. Extension 0 - 20 degrees.
What is the range of motion of the hip joint in the frontal plane?
Abduction 0 - 30 degrees. Adduction 0 - 25 degrees.
What is the range of motion of the hip joint in the transverse plane?
External rotation 0 - 90 degrees. Internal rotation 0 - 70 degrees.
Why is rotation limited when the hip joint is extended?
This is due to restriction of soft tissue.
What range of motion is required to stand up and sit down?
110 degrees of flexion-extension; 20 degrees of abduction-adduction and 15 degrees of rotation.
When taking into consideration the frontal plane, are there any active muscles when a bilateral stance is taken?
No
Which three external forces ac ton the pelvis during a bilateral stance?
The weight of the upper body acting downwards and two reaction forces one at each hip joint acting upwards.
What proportion of total body weight is the upper body (head, arms and trunk - HAT)?
70%