Suggested fundamental concepts in skeletal physiology

Conclusion

By 1990, the work and thought of legions led to a new paradigm of skeletal biology [1, 2, 8, 15–27]. It is not the product of one man or group, even though one group wrote more about it than others. Its strength and potential usefulness lie more in its basic concepts, the “common denominators” or connections in diverse facts, than in the facts themselves. It melds ideas and information from many branches of skeletal science so it has multidisciplinary roots and one could say its concepts lie on many “shelves” (including, in part anatomic, biochemical, biomechanical, cell biologic, clinical, and pathologic ones). It still evolves; it is fluid. This article offers a brief look at some concepts on its vital biomechanical shelf [28]. They can suggest the skeleton's mechanical usage story is more deeply involved in supposedly “medical” skeletal affections than anyone suspected a decade or more ago.