Wolff's law

Wolff's Law

Wolff's Law (pronounced: /wʊlfz lɔː/) is a theory in anatomy and physiology that describes how bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads under which it is placed. The law is named after the German anatomist and surgeon Julius Wolff, who proposed the theory in the 19th century.

Etymology

The term "Wolff's Law" is derived from the name of its proposer, Julius Wolff. Wolff was a German anatomist and surgeon who lived from 1836 to 1902. He is best known for his work on the structure and function of the skeletal system, particularly the theory that bone adapts to the loads under which it is placed.

Definition

Wolff's Law states that the internal architecture and external form of healthy bone will change over time in response to the mechanical stresses it experiences. This means that if the loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading. The reverse is also true: if the loading on a bone decreases, the bone will become weaker and less dense, making it more susceptible to injury.

Related Terms

• Bone remodeling: The process by which bone tissue is replaced by new bone tissue. This process is influenced by Wolff's Law.
• Osteoblasts: Cells that synthesize bone. They are crucial to the process of bone remodeling described by Wolff's Law.
• Osteoclasts: Cells that break down bone tissue. They are also involved in the bone remodeling process.
• Mechanotransduction: The process by which cells convert mechanical stimulus into chemical activity. This process is thought to be a key mechanism by which Wolff's Law operates.

See Also

• Julius Wolff
• Bone remodeling
• Osteoblasts
• Osteoclasts
• Mechanotransduction

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Wolff's law
• Wikipedia's article - Wolff's law

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