Elastic Constants of Cancellous Bone

Cancellous bone is a porous type of tissue mainly found near the ends of long bones and in vertebral bodies. In long bones, it distributes the mechanical loads from the articular surfaces to the cortical shaft, whereas in vertebral bodies it is the main load-carrying constituent. Bone fractures due to conditions such as osteoporosis usually occur in cancellous bone regions. Diseases in the skeleton, such as osteoarthritis, might be related to the mechanical properties of the subchondral bone under the affected cartilage and that of the cancellous bone supporting it. Hence, the mechanical quality of cancellous bone is an important parameter for bone fracture risk and integrity.