P.F. Lesgaft - one of the founders of Experimental biomechanics in Russia

Since the mid-19th century, researchers discussed the influence of mechanical efforts on the processes occurring in nature, i.e., the establishment of the relation between structure and function of the bones. Doctor of medicine G.H. Meyer in Zurich and Professor of mechanics Carl Culmann in 1866, with the example of the femur showed that the structure of the bone corresponds to the laws of mechanics. Professor-anatomist Peter F. Lesgaft (1837-1909) was the first in Russia who paid a great attention to this issue. He had written some works, where he discussed the growth of bones, depending on the mechanical stress and the environment, and formulated a frame of problems for research. Lesgaft had created and lectured on a new course "Theoretical Anatomy" in which the author collected data on the physical and mechanical properties of living tissues of the human body. As for the solution of biomechanical problems there was not enough the source data, in 1885 he began to work with the staff of the mechanical laboratory of the St. Petersburg Institute of Communication lines, headed by N.A. Belelyubsky, on research of mechanical properties of tissues and structures of the human body. He obtained data on Young's modulus and strength of the bones of the skull and pelvis in the laboratory. The biological laboratory founded in the same year under Lesgaft direction. Later at the Institute of Technology it was carried out much work to identify the strength of bones of humans and animals, with the participation the employee of Biological Laboratory K.K.Hilzen (Gilzen), and professors of the Institute. Lesgaft had introduced mathematics in his researches of biomechanics of muscles and joints for study of anatomic build and functions of the musculoskeletal system. Together with the specialist in the theory of Abelian integrals, mathematician I.P. Dolbnya, they performed an interesting work "The Theory of simple joints." Serious anatomical studies combined with mathematical calculations formed the basis of studying simple and complex joints. Lesgaft's works "Architecture bones", "On the connection between a bones", "On the causes that affect the shape of the bones," led to important conclusions for traumatology and orthopedics.