Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Structure

Martini - Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition

Martini, Nath, Bartholomew11th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874089Not the one you use?Change textbook

Martini, Nath, Bartholomew 11th Edition

Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Structure

Problem 24

Chapter 6, Problem 24

Why does a second fracture in the same bone tend to occur at a site different from that of the first fracture?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that when a bone fractures, the healing process involves the formation of a callus and remodeling of the bone tissue at the fracture site, which changes the bone's structural properties locally.

Recognize that the area of the first fracture undergoes repair, which can lead to increased bone density and strength at that site compared to the surrounding bone.

Consider that the bone's mechanical stress distribution changes after the first fracture and healing, often causing stress to be transferred to other, less reinforced areas of the bone.

Realize that these new stress concentrations make other parts of the bone more susceptible to fractures, which is why a second fracture tends to occur at a different site.

Summarize that the combination of localized healing, altered bone strength, and redistributed mechanical forces explains why subsequent fractures usually happen away from the original fracture site.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bone Healing and Remodeling

After a fracture, the bone undergoes a healing process involving inflammation, repair, and remodeling. During remodeling, new bone tissue replaces the damaged area, restoring strength but often altering the bone's internal structure, which can influence where future fractures occur.

Stress Distribution in Bones

Bones experience mechanical stresses during daily activities. After a fracture, the healed area may have altered stiffness or strength, causing stress to be redistributed to other parts of the bone. This shift in stress concentration can make different sites more susceptible to subsequent fractures.

Bone Microarchitecture and Weak Points

Bone is composed of cortical and trabecular structures with varying density and strength. Areas adjacent to a healed fracture might develop microstructural weaknesses or changes, while other regions may remain vulnerable, leading to a second fracture occurring at a different site.

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Textbook Question

What are the functional relationships between the skeleton, on the one hand, and the digestive and urinary systems, on the other?

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Textbook Question

Why do extended periods of inactivity cause degenerative changes in the skeleton?

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Textbook Question

While playing on her swing set, 10-year-old Sally falls and breaks her right leg. At the emergency room, the doctor tells her parents that the proximal end of the tibia where the epiphysis meets the diaphysis is fractured. The fracture is properly set and eventually heals. During a routine physical when she is 18, Sally learns that her right leg is 2 cm shorter than her left, probably because of her accident. What might account for this difference?

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Textbook Question

Why would a physician be concerned about the growth patterns of a young child request an x-ray of the hand?

Which of the following conditions would you possibly observe in a child who is suffering from rickets?

(a) Abnormally short limbs

(b) Abnormally long limbs

(d) Bowed legs