Effect of localized impact on the human skull and patella

The results of recent dynamic load measurements on the human skull and patella bone, conducted with less-than-one-square-inch penetrators, are discussed in relation to previously reported skull impact data from larger contact areas. The impacts were performed on embalmed bone at 0, 10, and 20 mph. The results of the impacts performed on patellas in the laboratory are correlated with accident reports from case histories of patella fractures.