Table of Contents
What is the cause of hardness of bone?
The hardness and rigidity of bone is due to the presence of mineral salt in the osteoid matrix, which is a crystalline complex of calcium and phosphate (hydroxyapatite). Calcified bone contains about 25% organic matrix (2-5% of which are cells), 5% water and 70% inorganic mineral (hydroxyapatite).
What makes the bone rigid and strong?
Bones are made up of a framework of a protein called collagen , with a mineral called calcium phosphate that makes the framework hard and strong.
What is the hardness of a bone?
The mean hardness ranged from 33.30 HV (the head) to 43.82 HV (the diaphysis). The hardest part of the radius was the shaft, with a value of 42.54 ± 5.59 HV. The proximal metaphysis had a hardness value of 34.15 ± 6.48 HV, and the distal metaphysis hardness value was 35.24 ± 5.17 HV.
Can bones be heavy?
Bone density (the thickness of our bones) relies on a good diet, sunlight and physical activity to keep them strong. Bone density will be heavier on a person who is overweight as they are carrying a load, this can mean that the lower body can have good bone density while the upper body may have thinner bones.
What is the definition of hardness in bone?
Hardness in bone is characterized by resistance to penetration and a permanent indentation. The tissue may be considered to be a space net of interconnected collagen molecules, with mineral cyrstallites embedding the intermolecular linkages. Various considerations indicate there must be some residual unfilled space in…
What makes bone a living, growing tissue?
Made mostly of collagen, bone is living, growing tissue. Collagen is a protein that provides a soft framework, and calcium phosphate is a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination of collagen and calcium makes bone strong and flexible enough to withstand stress.
Is the hardness of bone macroscopic or microscopic?
Bone exhibits hardness of essentially the same magnitude on both the macroscopic and microscopic scale. It has been observed on individual osteonic lamellae and trabeculae (Weaver, 1966; Amprino, 1958) from which it is inferred that hardness must be an intrinsic characteristic of mineralized collagen and not structure dependent.
How are calcium phosphate and collagen related to bone?
Collagen is a protein that provides a soft framework, and calcium phosphate is a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination of collagen and calcium makes bone strong and flexible enough to withstand stress. More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is contained in the bones and teeth.