Sticks and Stones Will Break That Bone!
Students learn about the strength of bonesCopyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Students learn about the strength of bones and methods of helping to mend fractured bones. During a class demonstration, a chicken bone is broken by applying a load until it reaches a point of failure (fracture). Then, working as biomedical engineers, students teams design their own splint or cast to help repair a fractured bone, learning about the strength of materials used.
Some engineers study bones, the skeletal system and the human body as they create methods and types of medical devices to help the body with many types of bone-related injuries, diseases and disorders. Modern splints and casts are products that protect, support or immobilize fractures during the healing process, as well as components to custom make them. Example devices include: finger splints, wrist/thumb supports, arthritis supports, cervical collars, knee/back supports, ankle/foot supports, shoulder supports/slings, casts, and compression and taping products, as well as x-ray and MRI equipment for diagnosis. Modern splints, slings and casts are durable, light-weight, comfortable, waterproof and/or removable.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Use a model to describe how a load might affect a bone.
- Explain that biomedical engineers design medical devices to help in the healing of fractured bones.