Tom Flemons - Tensegrity Skeleton

Tensegrity - Tensional Integrity

" All structures, properly understood, from the solar system to the atom are tensegrity structures. The universe is omnitensional integrity."

Buckminster Fuller

Tensegrity, tensional integrity or floating compression is a structural principle based on the use of isolated components in compression inside a net of continuous tension, in such a way that the compressed members (usually bars or struts) do not touch each other and the prestressed tensioned members (usually cables or tendons) delineate the system spatially.

The term was coined by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s as a portmanteau of "tensional integrity". The other denomination of tensegrity, floating compression, was used mainly by Kenneth Snelson.

References and recommendations

1. Tensegrity wiki

Tensegrity related wiki. Good starting point.

2. Tensegrity in biology

Graham Scarr's biotensegrity related website. Graham Scarr is a chartered biologist and osteopath with a particular interest in structural mechanics. Fascinated by the numerous examples of geometric patterns and shapes in nature, he has been researching their significance over many years.

3. Biotensegrity.com

Biotensegrity is tensegrity applied to biology. Stephen M Levin MD is most likely the first one who used this term.

4. Living tensegrity - Anatomy for the 21st century

Clinical Anatomist John Sharkey is a world renowned presenter and authority in the areas of anatomy, bodywork and movement therapies.