Microstructural And Mechanical Properties Of Human Ribs Joseph

posterior region is finally compared, indicated that these specimens from F1 female subject
had significantly lower peak force values than the M1 male (P=0.01) and M2 male subject
(P=0.01).
Discussion
The results of this investigation on the response of human ribs to dynamic three-
point bending suggest that there are differences in rib properties at different locations in the
thorax. These differences can be attributed to variations in geometry and microstructural
properties between ribs and along each rib in the thorax. The posterior ribs for example,
failed at a significantly higher stress than the anterior specimens (p=0.01) and also had the
significantly highest moment of inertia (p=0.04). There was no significant differences
among the moment of inertia values for the female subjects. However, the female moment
of inertia values were significantly lower than those of the males (P=0.01). These
comparisons were made by grouping the specimens together for all subjects. There were
differences between the subjects themselves, which contributed to the differences described
above.
Grouping the specimens by each subject allows for comparisons to be made by age
and in this case, the importance of BMD data was highlighted. The F1 female subject was
given the second lowest BMD score (T=-3) and exhibited the lowest peak force and
moment of inertia values when compared by body region and the combined data for all
specimens. The F2 female subject had the lowest BMD score (T=-3.3) but combining the
specimens together was the comparison that showed significant differences between peak
force and moment of inertia values. The posterior specimens were the exception, however,
which had lower moment of inertia values for the F2 female than the two male subjects.
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