Biomechanics & Biomaterials MCQs

To minimize stress shielding around a femoral stem, the implant's material should have a stiffness (modulus of elasticity) as comparable to cortical bone as possible. Which of the following biomaterials most closely approximates the Young's modulus of cortical bone?

You are applying a uniplanar external fixator to a tibia fracture. To maximize the bending stiffness of the construct, altering which parameter of the half-pins will have the most profound mathematical effect?

When a constant force is applied to a ligament over an extended period of time, it undergoes a gradual increase in deformation. What is this biomechanical property called?

For a hollow cylindrical bone undergoing a bending load, the bending stiffness is directly proportional to which of the following geometric properties?

Which of the following combinations of orthopedic implants is most likely to result in significant galvanic corrosion in vivo?

Cortical bone exhibits different mechanical properties depending on the direction in which the load is applied (e.g., stronger in longitudinal compression than in transverse loading). This characteristic is best termed:

On a standard stress-strain curve for a ductile material, the point at which the material transitions from elastic deformation to plastic deformation is known as the:

In the load-elongation curve of a healthy tendon, the initial nonlinear "toe region" represents which of the following physiologic phenomena?

Among the following structural metallic biomaterials utilized in orthopedic implants, which possesses a modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) closest to that of cortical bone?

In biomechanical material testing, an S-N (Stress-Number of cycles) curve is often generated to assess fatigue failure. What does the endurance limit on this curve represent?

A tendon undergoes progressive elongation when subjected to a constant, sustained tensile load over a period of time. This fundamental viscoelastic property is defined as:

The torsional stiffness of a solid intramedullary nail is mathematically proportional to its radius raised to which of the following powers?

During tensile biomechanical testing of a native human ligament, the initial non-linear 'toe region' of the resulting stress-strain curve represents which of the following physiologic phenomena?

When analyzing the biomechanical properties of human bone via a stress-strain curve, cortical bone is distinct from cancellous bone in that cortical bone exhibits:

A surgeon elects to ream the femoral canal to increase the diameter of an intramedullary nail from 10 mm to 12 mm. Assuming a solid cylinder model, by what factor does the torsional rigidity of the nail increase?

A patient undergoes revision total hip arthroplasty using a modular implant with a cobalt-chromium femoral head placed on a titanium alloy stem. The use of two dissimilar metals in an electrolytic fluid environment primarily predisposes the construct to which type of corrosion?

Ligaments and tendons exhibit time-dependent mechanical behaviors due to their viscoelastic nature. The phenomenon where an isolated tissue continues to elongate over time under a constant applied load is termed:

A trauma surgeon is comparing different implant materials for a diaphyseal fracture fixation. Which of the following lists correctly orders materials by decreasing Young's modulus (stiffness)?