Welcome to the course Biomechanics!

Credits: 7,5 hp. Level: A. Responsible teacher: Lorenzo Grassi, Lorenzo.Grassi@bme.lth.se.  Recommended prerequisites: Basic courses in Mechanics and Solid Mechanics. Teaching: Lectures mixed with problem solving 26 h. Individual study: 100 h. Assessment: Three written compulsory assignments, one short oral presentation, two labs and an individual home exam which is graded. Study period: 1 (in the autumn)

Content

The course starts off with a short introduction to physiology and anatomy, where the emphasis is put on how organs are built up and work together. After that, the building stones of the human body, i.e., bone, articular cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, blood and body fluids are described and modelled in the context known from earlier courses in mechanics and solid mechanics. Concepts like constitutive equations are applied to biological material, e.g., bone, where the effects of mechanical loading on the inner structure are discussed and modelled. The architecture of the skeleton and the apparatus of locomotion are described as mechanical systems where the bones are coupled together in joints and the activity in the muscles control the movements. The big joint systems, i.e. knee, hip and spine are analysed and human motion is analysed both in terms of measurements and numerical models.

The syllabus for the course is found here: Syllabus

Literature

• Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System, 3rd or 4th edition, M. Nordin and V.H. Frankel
  • Alternatively,  Introductory Biomechanics, From cells to organisms, C. Ross Ethier and C. A. Simmons (available for free as pdf)
• Introduction to Biomechanics for engineering students, Ingrid Svensson, 2021 

Course material and communication regarding the course

All course material and the communication regarding the course are available on Canvas.