Mechanobiology exam 27 June 2011 list of questions

1. What is the difference between a circulating cell (e.g. white blood cell) and an
adherent cell in terms of mechanics? What could be a suitable mechanical model?
What could be a suitable mechanical test?
2. Tensegrity models versus whole cell continuum-type models: what is the difference?
Why use one or the other? For which purposes?
3. Cartilage mechanics is determined by its composition: explain.
4. What is the importance of collagen fibers for cartilage mechanics?
5. When engineering cartilage we need to make sure that we engineer mechanically
functional cartilage. What are important mechanical / structural targets?
6. What are the main differences between hydrostatic pressure and direct (uniaxial)
compression in terms of the local mechanical environment and their consequences?
Relate also to mechanoregulation theories on skeletal development and regeneration.
7. Given a certain loading regime for stimulating the in vitro engineering of skeletal
tissues. Explain the given experimental outcome in terms of mechanoregulation
theories on skeletal development and regeneration (Carters theory versus
Prendergasts theory).