Abstract

NARVAEZ-TOVAR, Carlos Alberto  and  GARZON-ALVARADO, Diego Alexander. Computational modeling of human bone development in the distal femoral growth plate. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2012, vol.31, n.3, pp.308-317. ISSN 0864-0300.

Long bone elongation is mainly due to proliferation and hypertrophy of the chondrocytes in growth plates. Under the assumption that the behavior of these cells depends on biochemical and mechanical factors, a presentation is made of a computational finite element model simulating the behavior of the human distal femoral growth plate. A two-dimensional domain is used to identify the regions of metaphyseal and epiphyseal trabecular bone covering the growth plate and the inert and columnar cartilage regions. Model validation was based on the histology corresponding to the distal femoral growth plate of a two-year old boy. The results obtained show that the model simulates the growth and behavior of the metaphyseal plate as regulated by its cellular activity and mechanical loads.

Keywords : growth plate; finite elements; femur; hypertrophy; chondrocytes.