Bone structure and function

Bone has a load-carrying function in the body, and an associated (micro)structure, which makes it light, as well as stiff and strong.
Owing to a stress-controlled biological regulatory mechanism the material is continuously 'maintained' by its inherent cells (micro-fractures are removed, while the structure adapts to magnitude and orientation of the external loads).
Perturbations in the regulatory mechanism, or the external loads, may cause serious affections, such as congenital deformities, osteoporosis, bone fractures and destruction of the joints.
The elective course provides an introduction to the biological regulatory processes in bone, to imaging and mechanical analysis in the clinic and in research, to assessment of strength and the analysis of failure processes, to development, diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis, to the application of fracture-fixation devices, and to the design, fixation and ingrowth of joint prostheses.
The course extends knowledge of bone cell biology, imaging techniques, mechanical analysis, human health and disease, computer simulation and animal-experimental models.
The course will consist of lectures and a project in which groups of students will work on a potential solution for a clinical problem. Students will have to search relevant literature on the topic themselves. There will be weekly meetings with the lecturers to discuss the progress. In the last week, the groups will give a pitch presentation on their solution.
The final exam will cover all the lecture material plus 6 review publications on specific topics that groups have worked on.

For Student Mobility Alliance students:
This course doesn’t require additional requirements than stated above.
The course will be delivered fully on TU/e campus 2 times/a week.
The final presentation and written exam will take place on TU/e campus.

After passing the course, the student:

1. has knowledge and insight into concepts and procedures in bone research, from the basics of bone biology to applied bone mechanics
2. has gained knowledge on the state of the art of bone research
3. can apply his/her gained knowledge to critically reflect on research papers in the field

You must meet the following requirements

• Completed Final examination Bsc program

• Materiaal wordt later verstrekt Selected scientific publications which will be distributed during the course.