Instructors:  Charles H. Turner, Ph.D.;  David B. Burr, Ph.D.

Course description:  The two skeletal diseases highlighted in this course,
osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, have complicated etiologies that are
related to aging.  Biomechanics plays a large role in the progression of
these diseases.  Osteoporosis is associated with increased fragility of the
spine, hip and wrist.  The bone composition and strength, and the nature
and frequency of falls are important biomechanical factors in this disease.
 Osteoarthritis has been characterized as 'wearing out' the articular
cartilage.  Mechanical overloads on the cartilage are partial and sometimes
major contributors to cartilage degradation.  Tissue engineering therapies
intended to replace torn cartilage will only be successful if the cartilage
biomechanics can be restored.  Thus cartilage biomechanics is central to
many aspects of osteoarthritis research.  

For further information regarding the Biomedical Engineering Program at Purdue University contact the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Office at (317) 494-5730 bmeprogram@ecn.purdue.edu