Synovial Biobearings: where tribology meets biology

Since its birth the tribology has primarily been focused on solving the industrial problems with wear and friction through the application of better materials, novel surface technologies, improved lubricants and lubrication methods. In recent years the research focus has shifted to the newly emerging areas like nanotechnology and biotribology. Biotribology is generally involved with all aspects of tribology related to the context of biological systems. Some typical examples of tribology applied to biology include: wear of screws and plates in bone fracture repair; wear of denture; wear of replacement heart valves; tribology of contact lenses and ocular tribology; tribology of natural synovial joints and artificial replacements. The general approach adopted for biotribological studies involves: obtain input conditions from anatomical and physiological conditions from anatomical and physiological considerations; obtain input conditions from anatomical and physiological considerations.The main focus of present paper is to give a scientific overview of human synovial joints as biological systems underlining recent understanding related to their mechanical and tribological behavior in terms of friction, lubrication, and wear.