The nonideal inelastic buckling behavior of single trabeculae from the subchondral region of the human medial tibial plateau was investigated. Wet specimens exhibited ductile buckling, whereas dry specimens buckled in a brittle manner. Extrapolation to ideal slenderness ratios showed Young's modulus to be 1. 65 multiplied by 10**6 psi in the wet state and 2. 05 multiplied by 10**6 psi in the dry state, reasonably similar to cortical bone.