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Index
Preface
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 • Tensegrity
Introduction
What is it?
The origins of tensegrity
The exhibition
Karl Ioganson
The architects
David Emmerich
Buckminster Fuller
The sculptor
Kenneth Snelson
The beginning of an idea
Building the tradition
A new perception
The geodesic dome
The functional sphere
The bicycle wheel
A combined effort
Chapter 2 • Simple geometry in complex organisms
A 'new' approach to geometry: one that nature already 'knows' about
The rules of physics
Triangulating a hexagon
Close-packing the shapes
The Platonic polyhedra
A dynamic structural system
The tetrahedron
The octahedron
The cube
The isotropic vector matrix and vector equilibrium
The icosahedron
The dodecahedron
The geometry of living structure
The jitterbug
Chapter 3 • The balance of unseen forces
The tensegrity model
T-prisms
T-helixes
The T-6 sphere and tensegrity-icosahedron
The simple complexity of tensegrity
Structure and energy
Structural hierarchies
A pattern for all the others
Chapter 4 • The problem with mechanics
The laws of classical mechanics
Stress and strain
Scaling up in size
The consequences
A glimmer of hope
The important bits are missing!
A different sort of geometry
Biomechanics
The broken lever
A changing paradigm
Bio-tensegrity
The kinematic chain
Closed-chain kinematics
Tensegrity kinematics
The problem solved!
Chapter 5 • The autonomous cell
The cytoskeleton
Regulating the cell
Shaping the balance
Linking the 'inside' with the 'outside'
The development of tissues
The movement of cells
The development of complex patterns
The cellular integrator
Chapter 6 • The twist in the tale
The helix
The molecular helix
Complex hierarchies
Spectrin
Collagen
The helical tube
Tubes within tubes within tubes…
The myofascial tube
The body wall
A more fundamental kind of geometry
Stirring the pot
Chapter 7 • The ease of motion
Replacing the old with the new
Dinosaurs and the Forth Bridge
Snelson’s tower
The vertebrate spine
The biotensegrity joint
The wheel
Floating sesamoids
A little bit of space
The knee
Sliding surfaces
A note of caution
A bit more detail
The elbow
Something rather peculiar is going on
A respectable function
A little resumé
Chapter 8 • The hard and the soft
The cranial vault
The geometric model
Straight into curves
Anatomical basics
Embryonic development
The integrated cranium
Cranial pathologies
The avian lung
Hierarchical anatomy
The tensegrity wheel model
The story so far
Chapter 9 • A closer look
Tension and compression
Attraction and repulsion
Pull and push
The possibilities are endless
Cables and struts
The lost strut
Simple evolving into complex
A search for the missing compression
It is all about perspective
Straight or curved
Reducing the stress
Spherical geometry
The nuances of anatomy
Chapter 10 • ‘Complex’ patterns in biology
The rhombic dodecahedron
The Fibonacci sequence and Golden Mean
Equivalence
Quasi-equivalence and the spherical viruses
Penrose tiling
The fractal
The connecting links
Quasicrystals
Higher dimensions
Hyperbolic geometry
What does it all mean?
Chapter 11 • Biotensegrity: a rational approach to biomechanics
The skeleton
Bones
Muscles
Connective tissues
The fascia
The microvacuolar system
A new reality
Mesokinetics
Unravelling the old ideas
A misplaced wisdom
A global synergy
The simple complexity of motion
The dynamics of movement
The control of motion
Functional kinematics
A shift in balance
Therapeutics
A change in perception
The biotensegrity model
A cautionary note
Basic science
Chapter 12 • Biotensegrity: the structural basis of life
First principles
The Platonic shapes and where they lead to
The helix
The icosahedron
Developmental evolution
The emergence of structure
The survival of the fittest
The biotensegrity model
The wheel
Multiple geometries
The ‘complex’ model and beyond
The functional human
The unseen core
Biotensegrity: the functional basis of life
Appendix
Figure sources and permissions
Glossary
References
Index
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