Chapter 1
Introduction
What is mechanobiology and how does it differ from biomechanics?
These are good questions, and a check of the internet and other published literature suggests that there are no universally accepted answers. Because biomechanics
is a relatively mature field, most people think they know what it means, although it
can mean different things to different people. Mechanobiology, in contrast, entered
the scientific lexicon relatively recently, and its definition seemingly changes or
adapts (so to speak) with ongoing developments in the field.
Since both fields involve biology and mechanics, there is considerable overlap.
But there also are important distinctions.
1.1 Biomechanics Versus Mechanobiology
This book deals primarily, but not exclusively, with mechanobiology. To answer the
questions posed above, we suggest the following definitions:
• Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical function and malfunction in
biological systems.
• Mechanobiology is the study of how biological systems maintain or restore
normal function in the face of abnormal mechanical loads or damage caused
by disease or trauma. The response includes the processes of growth (change
in volume), remodeling (change in material properties), and morphogenesis
(change in shape).
Notably, these definitions apply at all scales (e.g., subcellular, cell, tissue, and
organ). Moreover, other definitions have been proposed. For example, some define
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. A. Taber, Continuum Modeling in Mechanobiology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43209-6_1
1
Introduction
What is mechanobiology and how does it differ from biomechanics?
These are good questions, and a check of the internet and other published literature suggests that there are no universally accepted answers. Because biomechanics
is a relatively mature field, most people think they know what it means, although it
can mean different things to different people. Mechanobiology, in contrast, entered
the scientific lexicon relatively recently, and its definition seemingly changes or
adapts (so to speak) with ongoing developments in the field.
Since both fields involve biology and mechanics, there is considerable overlap.
But there also are important distinctions.
1.1 Biomechanics Versus Mechanobiology
This book deals primarily, but not exclusively, with mechanobiology. To answer the
questions posed above, we suggest the following definitions:
• Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical function and malfunction in
biological systems.
• Mechanobiology is the study of how biological systems maintain or restore
normal function in the face of abnormal mechanical loads or damage caused
by disease or trauma. The response includes the processes of growth (change
in volume), remodeling (change in material properties), and morphogenesis
(change in shape).
Notably, these definitions apply at all scales (e.g., subcellular, cell, tissue, and
organ). Moreover, other definitions have been proposed. For example, some define
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. A. Taber, Continuum Modeling in Mechanobiology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43209-6_1
1