The musculoskeletal system consists of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other connective components. The primary role of the musculoskeletal system is to bear loads for maintaining posture and controlling movement of the body. Each component is composed at the multiple length scales of molecules (nanometers), cells (micrometers), tissues (millimeters), and organs (centimeters). Cells are responsible for providing molecules that are used for building blocks of tissues. At the organ scale, ligaments connect between bones or teeth and bones while tendon bridges bones to muscles. Cartilage lubricates and protects articulating surfaces of bones at a joint. Loads applied during daily activities transmit through these multiscale components of the musculoskeletal system. Biomechanical analysis determines the magnitude and direction of load at anatomical sites depending on their multiscale structure and composition.
The major composition of the musculoskeletal system includes water, mineral, collagen, and other proteins. Mineral mainly controls elastic properties while water and collagen are responsible for viscoelastic responses. As a composite material, mechanical behaviour at each scale is determined by the combination of elastic, viscoelastic, and plastic characteristics. However, mechanistic and biological links between these multiscale components have not been established. Thus, this Research Topic aims to provide up-to-date information on the multiscale characterization of the musculoskeletal system.
We welcome Original Research articles, Review articles, and Perspectives on themes including, but not limited to:
• Specificity of multiscale characteristics between anatomical sites
• Effect of treatments of musculoskeletal disease on the multiscale characteristics
• Mechanobiologic cascade mechanism in the musculoskeletal disease process
• Biomechanical and mechanobiologic links between biologics and biomaterials to treat musculoskeletal disease.
• Biomolecules involved in biomechanical responses of musculoskeletal system
The musculoskeletal system consists of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other connective components. The primary role of the musculoskeletal system is to bear loads for maintaining posture and controlling movement of the body. Each component is composed at the multiple length scales of molecules (nanometers), cells (micrometers), tissues (millimeters), and organs (centimeters). Cells are responsible for providing molecules that are used for building blocks of tissues. At the organ scale, ligaments connect between bones or teeth and bones while tendon bridges bones to muscles. Cartilage lubricates and protects articulating surfaces of bones at a joint. Loads applied during daily activities transmit through these multiscale components of the musculoskeletal system. Biomechanical analysis determines the magnitude and direction of load at anatomical sites depending on their multiscale structure and composition.
The major composition of the musculoskeletal system includes water, mineral, collagen, and other proteins. Mineral mainly controls elastic properties while water and collagen are responsible for viscoelastic responses. As a composite material, mechanical behaviour at each scale is determined by the combination of elastic, viscoelastic, and plastic characteristics. However, mechanistic and biological links between these multiscale components have not been established. Thus, this Research Topic aims to provide up-to-date information on the multiscale characterization of the musculoskeletal system.
We welcome Original Research articles, Review articles, and Perspectives on themes including, but not limited to:
• Specificity of multiscale characteristics between anatomical sites
• Effect of treatments of musculoskeletal disease on the multiscale characteristics
• Mechanobiologic cascade mechanism in the musculoskeletal disease process
• Biomechanical and mechanobiologic links between biologics and biomaterials to treat musculoskeletal disease.
• Biomolecules involved in biomechanical responses of musculoskeletal system
