Biotensegrity

Source: biotensegrity.com — Stephen M Levin MD

Main Content

Tensegrity icosahedrons are used to model biologic organisms from viruses to vertebrates, their cells, systems and subsystems.

I regard the term "tensegrity" as conceived by R. Buckminster Fuller, who coined the term, and Kenneth Snelson, who first applied the mechanical principles to modern structures as an art form.

I have moved to the term 'biotensegrity' to consider tensegrity as a force vector concept as applied to biology.

There are only tension and compression elements in tensegrity systems. There are no shears, bending moments or levers, just simple tension and compression, in a self organizing, hierarchical, load distributing, low energy consuming structure.

Key Resources Referenced

After you have read some of the papers in the papers section, you might want to read more about Tensegrity. For an excellent review by an architect see Val Jauregui's architectural thesis. For further understanding of tensegrity in biologic structures from the viewpoint of a geometer/artist/inventor see Tom Flemons' The Geometry of Anatomy and The Bones of Tensegrity published on his website. Tom makes models of anatomical structures based on biotensegrity principles. Most of the models shown in Levin's DVD are made by Tom, and a third of the DVD is a discussion between Levin and Flemons about biotensegrity using his models to illustrate the concept.

Michael Turvey has written an extensive analysis in which the whole topic of musculoskeletal synergies is explored (41 pages). The concept of biotensegrity is included in the discussion. Turvey MT. 2007. Action and perception at the level of synergies. Hum Mov Sci. 26 (2007) 657-697.

J.C. Guimberteau has produced a remarkable DVD, Strolling Under the Skin, that demonstrates tensegrity in action in the fascia.

Donald Ingber's ongoing research at Harvard works primarily at the cellular level. Levin and Ingber have some differences on points, most notably on 'Shear or no Shear', but these are minor compared to their areas of agreement.

Site Sections

• About — history of the biotensegrity concept
• Papers — Levin's published papers on biotensegrity
• Modeling — physical models of biological tensegrity structures
• Commentary — blog-style discussions including the "Shear or no Shear" debate with Ingber
• Links — related resources and researchers

Key Figures

• Stephen M. Levin MD — coined the term "biotensegrity"; orthopedic surgeon who proposed tensegrity modeling for biological structures
• R. Buckminster Fuller — coined "tensegrity"; foundational structural principle
• Kenneth Snelson — first applied tensegrity mechanical principles to modern structures as art
• Donald E. Ingber — cellular-level tensegrity research at Harvard (Wyss Institute)
• Tom Flemons — builds anatomical models based on biotensegrity principles (Intension Designs)
• Val Jauregui — architectural thesis on tensegrity structures
• Michael Turvey — musculoskeletal synergies and biotensegrity analysis
• J.C. Guimberteau — filmed tensegrity in fascial tissue (Strolling Under the Skin)

External Links

• Buckminster Fuller Institute
• Kenneth Snelson
• Val Jauregui's Thesis
• Intension Designs (Tom Flemons)
• Donald Ingber / Wyss Institute
• J.C. Guimberteau
• Strolling Under the Skin (YouTube)

© 2018 Stephen M Levin