Final answer:
The statement that the mechanical response of bone tissue to loading is dependent on the direction of the loading is true, due to the anisotropic nature of bones and the process of bone remodeling as explained by Wolff's law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanical response of bone tissue to loading is indeed dependent on the direction of the loading. This statement is true. The property that describes this behavior is known as anisotropy, and it indicates that the strength and deformation of bones can vary when they are subjected to forces from different directions.
According to Wolff's law, bone density and shape are influenced by the mechanical forces acting upon them, allowing the bone to become stronger in response to the stress it encounters. Furthermore, bone remodeling is a process where bone tissue actively reorients and aligns itself according to the stress it endures, either in parallel or perpendicular to the direction of applied force.
However, cells tend to orient away from the dynamically oscillating stress, such as the ones caused by heartbeat and blood pressure variations, which indicates their active response to the quality of the stress, not just the magnitude.