Mechanisms of osteocyte mechanotransduction

Healthy bones combine a proper resistance against fracture with a minimum use of material. This property is likely brought about by osteocytes in response to mechanical cues, but it is still unknown how whole bone loads are translated into a signal that can be sensed by the osteocytes. The goal of this chapter is to critically analyze our current knowledge on how bone transduction takes place from the level of mechanical loads placed upon the bone as an organ to activation of a cell.