Lubrication regime of the contact between fat and bone in bovine tissue

Abstract

Fat pads are masses of encapsulated adipose tissue located throughout the human body. Whilst a number of studies describe these soft tissues anatomically little is known about their biomechanics, and surgeons may excise them arthroscopically if they hinder visual inspection of the joint or bursa. By measuring the coefficient of friction between, and performing Sommerfeld analysis of, the surfaces approximating the in vivo conjuncture, this contact has been shown to have a coefficient of friction of the order of 0.01. The system appears to be lubricated hydrodynamically, thus possibly promoting low levels of wear. It is suggested that one of the functions of fat pads associated with subtendinous bursae and synovial joints is to generate a hydrodynamic lubricating layer between the opposing surfaces.