Biomechanics is the study of the structure, function and motion of the mechanical aspects of biological systems, at any level from whole organisms to organs, cells and cell organelles, using the methods of mechanics. Biomechanics is a branch of biophysics.

Everyone has been to a mechanic before. Likely you took your car to him or her either for regular maintenance or because something went wrong. Because of their understanding of those fickle, ubiquitous machines we all use, they were probably able to diagnose the problem relatively quickly and get you back on the road in a few days, at most.

Far fewer people have ever been to a biomechanic or even know what one is! In this lesson, we will explore what exactly the field of biomechanics is and look at its applications and uses in the 21st century.

Biomechanics is the study of how the systems and structures of biological organisms, from the smallest plants to the largest animals, react to various forces and external stimuli. In humans, biomechanics often refers to the study of how the skeletal and musculature systems work under different conditions. In biomechanics more generally, scientists often try to apply physics and other mathematically based forms of analysis to discover the limits and capabilities of biological systems.