References
15
These are just some of the processes involved in mechanotransduction. For
further details, please see Jacobs et al. (2013), Mammoto et al. (2013), and Chanet
and Martin (2014).
1.6 Topics Covered and Not Covered by This Book
The main objective of this book is to introduce physical theories that can be used
to solve problems in mechanobiology. The theories are based on the fundamental
principles of continuum mechanics, which ignore the discrete nature of biological
materials. This does not mean that these methods cannot be used to model the
behavior of individual cells, where the nucleus, organelles, cell membrane, and
cytoskeleton can be represented as continuous structures to a first approximation.
At the tissue level, however, the behavior of subcellular structures, and even the
cells themselves, is considered only in an average sense, with the tissue treated as a
composite material on the macro scale.
In addition, we generally treat biological tissues as elastic or pseudoelastic. For
the most part, energy losses due to viscous effects (viscoelasticity) are neglected,
although these effects may be important for certain problems. Finally, we do not
consider mechanotransduction, which typically involves events at the molecular
level. To fully understand problems in mechanobiology, mechanotransduction must
be part of the mix, but this subject is better left to those with more expertise in cell
biophysics. For a biophysics approach to the mechanobiology of cells, please see
the excellent book by Jacobs et al. (2013).
A fundamental knowledge of differential equations and mechanics of materials
is assumed. Building on this background, Chap. 2 introduces tensor analysis, and
Chap. 3 presents the fundamental equations of continuum mechanics and nonlinear
elasticity. Next, Chap. 4 uses these theories to solve some basic problems in
biomechanics.
These first few chapters lay the foundation for the rest of the book, which deals
with the active response of biological tissues for problems in mechanobiology.
Chapter 5 considers the mechanics of active contraction and introduces the concept
of a changing zero-stress state. This idea is used to develop theories and models for
growth, remodeling, and morphogenesis in Chaps. 6, 7, and 8, respectively.
References
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P (2014) Molecular biology
of the cell, 6th edn. W.W. Norton, New York
Ambrosi D, Ben Amar M, Cyron CJ, DeSimone A, Goriely A, Humphrey JD, Kuhl E (2019)
Growth and remodelling of living tissues: perspectives, challenges and opportunities. J R Soc
Interface 16:20190233
Ascenzi A (1993) Biomechanics and Galileo Galilei. J Biomech 26:95–100
15
These are just some of the processes involved in mechanotransduction. For
further details, please see Jacobs et al. (2013), Mammoto et al. (2013), and Chanet
and Martin (2014).
1.6 Topics Covered and Not Covered by This Book
The main objective of this book is to introduce physical theories that can be used
to solve problems in mechanobiology. The theories are based on the fundamental
principles of continuum mechanics, which ignore the discrete nature of biological
materials. This does not mean that these methods cannot be used to model the
behavior of individual cells, where the nucleus, organelles, cell membrane, and
cytoskeleton can be represented as continuous structures to a first approximation.
At the tissue level, however, the behavior of subcellular structures, and even the
cells themselves, is considered only in an average sense, with the tissue treated as a
composite material on the macro scale.
In addition, we generally treat biological tissues as elastic or pseudoelastic. For
the most part, energy losses due to viscous effects (viscoelasticity) are neglected,
although these effects may be important for certain problems. Finally, we do not
consider mechanotransduction, which typically involves events at the molecular
level. To fully understand problems in mechanobiology, mechanotransduction must
be part of the mix, but this subject is better left to those with more expertise in cell
biophysics. For a biophysics approach to the mechanobiology of cells, please see
the excellent book by Jacobs et al. (2013).
A fundamental knowledge of differential equations and mechanics of materials
is assumed. Building on this background, Chap. 2 introduces tensor analysis, and
Chap. 3 presents the fundamental equations of continuum mechanics and nonlinear
elasticity. Next, Chap. 4 uses these theories to solve some basic problems in
biomechanics.
These first few chapters lay the foundation for the rest of the book, which deals
with the active response of biological tissues for problems in mechanobiology.
Chapter 5 considers the mechanics of active contraction and introduces the concept
of a changing zero-stress state. This idea is used to develop theories and models for
growth, remodeling, and morphogenesis in Chaps. 6, 7, and 8, respectively.
References
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P (2014) Molecular biology
of the cell, 6th edn. W.W. Norton, New York
Ambrosi D, Ben Amar M, Cyron CJ, DeSimone A, Goriely A, Humphrey JD, Kuhl E (2019)
Growth and remodelling of living tissues: perspectives, challenges and opportunities. J R Soc
Interface 16:20190233
Ascenzi A (1993) Biomechanics and Galileo Galilei. J Biomech 26:95–100