Investigations on some physical properties of bone tissue

Material and nanomechanical properties of bone structural units of cortical and trabecular iliac bone tissues from untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic women

The differences in bone nanomechanical properties between cortical (Ct) and trabecular (Tb) bone remain uncertain, whereas knowing the respective contribution of each compartment is critical to understand the origin of bone strength. Our purpose was to compare bone mechanical and intrinsic properties of Ct and Tb compartments, at the bone structural unit (BSU) level, in iliac bone taken from a homogeneous untreated human population.

Among 60 PMMA-embedded transiliac bone biopsies from untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic women (64 ± 7 year-old), >2000 BSUs were analysed by nanoindentation in physiological wet conditions [indentation modulus (elasticity), hardness, dissipated energy], by Fourier transform infrared (FTIRM) and Raman microspectroscopy (mineral and organic characteristics), and by X-ray microradiography (degree of mineralization of bone, DMB). BSUs were categorized based on tissue age, osteonal (Ost) and interstitial (Int) tissues location and bone compartments (Ct and Tb).

Indentation modulus was higher in Ct than in Tb BSUs, both in Ost and Int. dissipated energy was higher in Ct than Tb, in Int BSUs. Hardness was not different between Ct and Tb BSUs. In Ost or Int BSUs, mineral maturity (conversion of non-apatitic into apatitic phosphates) was higher in Ct than in Tb, as well as for collagen maturity (Ost). Mineral content assessed as mineral/matrix (FTIRM and Raman) or as DMB, was lower in Ct than in Tb. Crystallinity (FTIRM) was similar in BSUs from Ct and Tb, and slightly lower in Ct than in Tb when measured by Raman, indicating that the crystal size/perfection was quite similar between Ct and Tb BSUs. The differences found between Ost and Int tissues were much higher than the difference found between Ct and Tb for all those bone material properties. Multiple regression analysis showed that Indentation modulus and dissipated energy were mainly explained by mineral maturity in Ct and by collagen maturity in Tb, and hardness by mineral content in both Ct and Tb.

In conclusion, in untreated human iliac bone, Ct and Tb BSUs exhibit different characteristics. Ct BSUs have higher indentation modulus, dissipated energy (Int), mineral and organic maturities than Tb BSUs, without difference in hardness. Although those differences are relatively small compared to those found between Ost and Int BSUs, they may influence bone strength at macroscale.

Changes in Vickers hardness during the decomposition of bone: Possibilities for forensic anthropology

The purpose of this study was to determine how the Vickers hardness (HV) of bone varies during soft tissue putrefaction. This has possible forensic applications, notably for determining the postmortem interval. Experimental porcine bone samples were decomposed in surface and burial deposition scenarios over a period of 6 months. Although the Vickers hardness varied widely, it was found that when transverse axial hardness was subtracted from longitudinal axial hardness, the difference showed correlations with three distinct phases of soft tissue putrefaction. The ratio of transverse axial hardness to longitudinal axial hardness showed a similar correlation. A difference of 10 or greater in HV with soft tissue present and signs of minimal decomposition, was associated with a decomposition period of 250 cumulative cooling degree days or less. A difference of 10 (+/- standard error of mean at a 95% confidence interval) or greater in HV associated with marked decomposition indicated a decomposition period of 1450 cumulative cooling degree days or more. A difference of -7 to +8 (+/- standard error of mean at a 95% confidence interval) was thus associated with 250 to 1450 cumulative cooling degree days' decomposition. The ratio of transverse axial HV to longitudinal HV, ranging from 2.42 to 1.54, is a more reliable indicator in this context and is preferable to using negative integers These differences may have potential as an indicator of postmortem interval and thus the time of body deposition in the forensic context.

Insights into reference point indentation involving human cortical bone: sensitivity to tissue anisotropy and mechanical behavior

Reference point indentation (RPI) is a microindentation technique involving 20 cycles of loading in "force-control" that can directly assess a patient׳s bone tissue properties. Even though preliminary clinical studies indicate a capability for fracture discrimination, little is known about what mechanical behavior the various RPI properties characterize and how these properties relate to traditional mechanical properties of bone. To address this, the present study investigated the sensitivity of RPI properties to anatomical location and tissue organization as well as examined to what extent RPI measurements explain the intrinsic mechanical properties of human cortical bone. Multiple indents with a target force of 10N were done in 2 orthogonal directions (longitudinal and transverse) per quadrant (anterior, medial, posterior, and lateral) of the femoral mid-shaft acquired from 26 donors (25-101 years old). Additional RPI measurements were acquired for 3 orthogonal directions (medial only). Independent of age, most RPI properties did not vary among these locations, but they did exhibit transverse isotropy such that resistance to indentation is greater in the longitudinal (axial) direction than in the transverse direction (radial or circumferential). Next, beam specimens (~2mm×5mm×40mm) were extracted from the medial cortex of femoral mid-shafts, acquired from 34 donors (21-99 years old). After monotonically loading the specimens in three-point bending to failure, RPI properties were acquired from an adjacent region outside the span. Indent direction was orthogonal to the bending axis. A significant inverse relationship was found between resistance to indentation and the apparent-level mechanical properties. Indentation distance increase (IDI) and a linear combination of IDI and the loading slope, averaged over cycles 3 through 20, provided the best explanation of the variance in ultimate stress (r(2)=0.25, p=0.003) and toughness (r(2)=0.35, p=0.004), respectively. With a transverse isotropic behavior akin to tissue hardness and modulus as determined by micro- and nano-indentation and a significant association with toughness, RPI properties are likely influenced by both elastic and plastic behavior of bone tissue.

Human bone hardness seems to depend on tissue type but not on anatomical site in the long bones of an old subject

It has been hypothesised that among different human subjects, the bone tissue quality varies as a function of the bone segment morphology. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the quality, evaluated in terms of hardness of packages of lamellae, of cortical and trabecular bones, at different anatomical sites within the human skeleton. The contralateral six long bones of an old human subject were indented at different levels along the diaphysis and at both epiphyses of each bone. Hardness value, which is correlated to the degree of mineralisation, of both cortical and trabecular bone tissues was calculated for each indentation location. It was found that the cortical bone tissue was harder (+18%) than the trabecular one. In general, the bone hardness was found to be locally highly heterogeneous. In fact, considering one single slice obtained for a bone segment, the coefficient of variation of the hardness values was up to 12% for cortical bone and up to 17% for trabecular bone. However, the tissue hardness was on average quite homogeneous within and among the long bones of the studied donor, although differences up to 9% among levels and up to 7% among bone segments were found. These findings seem not to support the mentioned hypothesis, at least not for the long bones of an old subject.

Injectable calcium-phosphate-based composites for skeletal bone treatments

Alpha-tricalcium-phosphate-based bone cements hydrolyze and set, producing calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite. They can result in an effective solution for bone defect reconstruction due to their biocompatibility, bioactivity and adaptation to shape and bone defect sizes, together with an excellent contact between bone and graft. Moreover, the integration of hydrogel phase based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to H-cem-composed of α-tricalcium phosphate (98% wt) and hydroxyapatite (2% wt)-allows improving the mechanical and biological properties of the cement. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of the PVA on relevant properties for the final use of the injectable bone substitute, such as setting, hardening, injectability and in vivo behaviour. It was shown that by using PVA it is possible to modulate the setting and hardening properties: large increase in injectability time (1 h) in relation with the plain cement (few minutes) was achieved. Moreover, in vivo tests confirmed the ability of the composite to enhance bone healing in trabecular tissue. Histological results from critical size defects produced in rabbit distal femoral condyles showed after 12 weeks implantation a greater deposition of new tissue on bone-composite interfaces in comparison to bone-cement interfaces. The quality of bone growth was confirmed through histomorphometric and microhardness analysis. Bone formation in the composite implantation sites was significantly higher than in H-cem implants at both times of evaluation.

Respective roles of organic and mineral components of human cortical bone matrix in micromechanical behavior: an instrumented indentation study

Bone is a multiscale composite material made of both a type I collagen matrix and a poorly crystalline apatite mineral phase. Due to remodeling activity, cortical bone is made of Bone Structural Units (BSUs) called osteons. Since osteon represents a fundamental level of structural hierarchy, it is important to investigate the relationship between mechanical behavior and tissue composition at this scale for a better understanding of the mechanisms of bone fragility. The aim of this study is to analyze the links between ultrastructural properties and the mechanical behavior of bone tissue at the scale of osteon. Iliac bone biopsies were taken from untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic women, embedded, sectioned and microradiographed to assess the degree of mineralization of bone (DMB). On each section, BSUs of known DMB were indented with relatively high load (~500 mN) to determine local elastic modulus (E), contact hardness (H(c)) and true hardness (H) of several bone lamellae. Crystallinity and collagen maturity were measured by Fourier Transform InfraRed Microspectroscopy (FTIRM) on the same BSUs. Inter-relationships between mechanical properties and ultrastructural components were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. This study showed that elastic deformation was only explained by DMB whereas plastic deformation was more correlated with collagen maturity. Contact hardness, reflecting both elastic and plastic behaviors, was correlated with both DMB and collagen maturity. No relationship was found between crystallinity and mechanical properties at the osteon level.

Biomechanical performance of diaphyseal shafts and bone tissue of femurs from hypothyroid rats

The bone changes in hypothyroidism are characterized by a low bone turnover with a reduced osteoid apposition and bone mineralization rate, and a decreased osteoclastic resorption in cortical bone. These changes could affect the mechanical performance of bone. The evaluation of such changes was the object of the present investigation. Hypothyroidism was induced in female rats aged 21 days through administration of propylthiouracil in the drinking water for 70 days (HT group). Controls were untreated rats (C group). Right femur mechanical properties were tested in 3-point bending. Structural (load bearing capacity and stiffness), geometric (cross-sectional area and moment of inertia) and material (modulus of elasticity) properties were evaluated. The left femur was ashed for calcium content determination. Plasma T(4) concentration was significantly decreased in HT rats. Body and femur weight and length in HT rats were also reduced. Femoral calcium concentration in ash was higher in HT than in C rats. However, the femoral calcium mass was significantly lower in HT than in C rats because of the reduced femoral size seen in the former. The stiffness of bone material was higher in HT than in C rats, while the bone geometric properties were significantly lower. The "load capacity" was between 30 and 50% reduced in the HT group, although, the differences disappeared when the values were normalized per 100-g body weight. The lowered biomechanical ability observed in the femoral shafts of HT rats seems to be the expression of a diminished rate of growth. Qualitative alterations in the intrinsic mechanical properties of bone tissue were observed in HT rats, probably because the mineral content and the modulus of elasticity were positively affected. The cortical bone of the HT rat thus appears as a bone with a higher than normal strength and stiffness relative to body weight, probably due to improvement of bone material quality due to an increased matrix calcification.

Microindentation on cortical human bone: Effects of tissue condition and indentation location on hardness values

The hardness of cortical human bone has been measured on osteons in different conditions. However, no data are reported in the literature regarding the effect of cortical tissue condition and indentation location on the measured hardness values. This study aimed to investigate whether the hardness of the human cortical bone evaluated by micro-indentation is influenced, first, by the tissue condition and, second, by the distance of the indentation from the edge of the Haversian canal. Two femura were collected from a subject without musculoskeletal disease. The Vickers hardness was measured by means of microindentation (applied load, 100 gf) on osteons with a cross-section greater than 200 μm. The tests were performed on wet and embedded tissue at different distances from the Haversian canal edge (30—150 μm). No significant differences were found in hardness values between the two contralateral femura. Embedded tissue was significantly harder (12 per cent) than wet tissue. No significant differences were found in hardness values measured at different distances from the Haversian canal edge except for those closer than 60 μm. Therefore, indentations cannot be performed on osteons small in cross-section, since the distance from the closer pore has to be controlled. They should be performed on wet tissue, to avoid an offset in the measured hardness.

Material property variation of mandibular symphyseal bone in colobine monkeys

The anterior mandibular corpus of anthropoid primates is routinely subjected to masticatory loads that result in relatively high local levels of stress and strain. While structural morphological responses to these loads have been extensively explored, relatively little is known about material property variation in mandibular bone of nonhuman primates. Consequently, the role of regional and local variation in bone stiffness in conditioning stress and strain gradients is poorly understood. We sampled elastic modulus variation in the bone of the anterior mandibular corpus in two species (N = 3 each) of sympatric colobine monkeys, Procolobus badius and Colobus polykomos. These monkeys were chosen for comparison owing to their distinctive dietary regimens, as P. badius rarely includes hard objects in its diet while C. polykomos habitually processes obdurate items during feeding. Elastic modulus is determined through bone hardness data obtained via microindentation, which enables the description of stiffness variation on sub-millimeter scales. Labial bone stiffness exceeds that of lingual bone in the sample overall. Female mandibular bone is generally stiffer than that found in males, and overall Procolobus mandibular bone is stiffer than that in Colobus. These results, interpreted collectively, suggest that the material response to elevated masticatory stress is increased compliance of the affected bone.

Elastic Anisotropy of Human Cortical Bone Secondary Osteons Measured by Nanoindentation

The identification of anisotropic elastic properties of lamellar bone based on nanoindentation data is an open problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a method to estimate the orthotropic elastic constants of human cortical bone secondary osteons using nanoindentation in two orthogonal directions. Since the indentation modulus depends on all elastic constants and, for anisotropic materials, also on the indentation direction, a theoretical model quantifying the indentation modulus from the stiffness tensor of a given material was implemented numerically (Swadener and Pharr, 2001, “Indentation of Elastically Anisotropic Half-Spaces by Cones and Parabolae of Revolution,” Philos. Mag. A, 81(2), pp. 447–466). Nanoindentation was performed on 22 osteons of the distal femoral shaft: A new holding system was designed in order to indent the same osteon in two orthogonal directions. To interpret the experimental results and identify orthotropic elastic constants, an inverse procedure was developed by using a fabric-based elastic model for lamellar bone. The experimental indentation moduli were found to vary with the indentation direction and showed a marked anisotropy. The estimated elastic constants showed different degrees of anisotropy among secondary osteons of the same bone and these degrees of anisotropy were also found to be different than the one of cortical bone at the macroscopic level. Using the log-Euclidean norm, the relative distance between the compliance tensors of the estimated mean osteon and of cortical bone at the macroscopic level was 9.69%: Secondary osteons appeared stiffer in their axial and circumferential material directions, and with a greater bulk modulus than cortical bone, which is attributed to the absence of vascular porosity in osteonal properties. The proposed method is suitable for identification of elastic constants from nanoindentation experiments and could be adapted to other (bio)materials, for which it is possible to describe elastic properties using a fabric-based model.

The role of mineralization and organic matrix in the microhardness of bone tissue from controls and osteoporotic patients

Degree of mineralization of bone (DMB) is a major intrinsic determinant of bone strength at the tissue level but its contribution to the microhardness (Vickers indentation) at the intermediary level of organization of bone tissue, i.e., Bone Structural Units (BSUs), has never been assessed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the microhardness, the DMB and the organic matrix, measured in BSUs from human iliac bone biopsies. Iliac bone samples from controls and osteoporotic patients (men and women), embedded in methyl methacrylate, were used. Using a Vickers indenter, microhardness (kg/mm2) was measured, either globally on surfaced blocks or focally on 100 microm-thick sections from bone samples (load of 25 g applied during 10 sec; CV=5%). The Vickers indenter was more suited than the Knoop indenter for a tissue like bone in which components are diversely oriented. Quantitative microradiography performed on 100 microm-thick sections, allowed measurement of parameters reflecting the DMB (g/cm3). Assessed on the whole bone sample, both microhardness and DMB were significantly lower (-10% and -7%, respectively) in osteoporotic patients versus controls (p<0.001). When measured separately at the BSU level, there were significant positive correlations between microhardness and DMB in controls (r2=0.36, p<0.0001) and osteoporotic patients (r2=0.43, p<0.0001). Mineralization is an important determinant of the microhardness, but did not explain all of its variance. To highlight the role of the organic matrix in bone quality, microhardness of both osteoid and adjacent calcified matrix were measured in iliac samples from subjects with osteomalacia. Microhardness of organic matrix is 3-fold lower than the microhardness of calcified tissue. In human calcanei, microhardness was significantly correlated with DMB (r2=0.33, p=0.02) and apparent Young's modulus (r2=0.26, p=0.03). In conclusion, bone microhardness measured by Vickers indentation is an interesting methodology for the evaluation of bone strength and its determinants at the BSU level. Bone microhardness is linked to Young's modulus of bone and is strongly correlated to mineralization, but the organic matrix accounts for about one third of its variance.

Biomechanics of frontal skull fracture

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether an energy failure level applies to the skull fracture mechanics in unembalmed post-mortem human heads under dynamic frontal loading conditions. A double-pendulum model was used to conduct frontal impact tests on specimens from 18 unembalmed post-mortem human subjects. The specimens were isolated at the occipital condyle level, and pre-test computed tomography images were obtained. The specimens were rigidly attached to an aluminum pendulum in an upside down position and obtained a single degree of freedom, allowing motion in the plane of impact. A steel pendulum delivered the impact and was fitted with a flat-surfaced, cylindrical aluminum impactor, which distributed the load to a force sensor. The relative displacement between the two pendulums was used as a measure for the deformation of the specimen in the plane of impact. Three impact velocity conditions were created: low (3.60+/-0.23 m/sec), intermediate (5.21+/-0.04 m/sec), and high (6.95+/-0.04 m/sec) velocity. Computed tomography and dissection techniques were used to detect pathology. If no fracture was detected, repeated tests on the same specimen were performed with higher impact energy until fracture occurred. Peak force, displacement and energy variables were used to describe the biomechanics. Our data suggests the existence of an energy failure level in the range of 22-24 J for dynamic frontal loading of an intact unembalmed head, allowed to move with one degree of freedom. Further experiments, however, are necessary to confirm that this is a definitive energy criterion for skull fracture following impact.

Mechanical property determination of bone through nano- and micro-indentation testing and finite element simulation

Measurement of the mechanical properties of bone is important for estimating the stresses and strains exerted at the cellular level due to loading experienced on a macro-scale. Nano- and micro-mechanical properties of bone are also of interest to the pharmaceutical industry when drug therapies have intentional or non-intentional effects on bone mineral content and strength. The interactions that can occur between nano- and micro-indentation creep test condition parameters were considered in this study, and average hardness and elastic modulus were obtained as a function of indentation testing conditions (maximum load, load/unload rate, load-holding time, and indenter shape). The results suggest that bone reveals different mechanical properties when loading increases from the nano- to the micro-scale range (microN to N), which were measured using low- and high-load indentation testing systems. A four-parameter visco-elastic/plastic constitutive model was then applied to simulate the indentation load vs. depth response over both load ranges. Good agreement between the experimental data and finite element model was obtained when simulating the visco-elastic/plastic response of bone. The results highlight the complexity of bone as a biological tissue and the need to understand the impact of testing conditions on the measured results.

Microindentation in bone: hardness variation with five independent variables

Microindentation is an investigational tool often used to determine hardness and other derived material properties of the material bone. This study explored the variation of microindentation hardness results with five independent variables. The variables were: applied mass, dwell time, drying time, time between indentation and measurement, and distance between the center of an indentation and the edge of other indentations and pores. These variables were selected because they represented a reasonable range of specimen investigational steps. We also investigated the cross sections of typical indentation residual impressions to determine the degree of material pile-up at the edges of the impressions. We found that microindentation hardness varied with applied mass and with distance between the indentation and neighboring indentations and pores but not with the other variables. Our recommended minimum applied mass is 0.10 kg versus a previously published value of 0.05 kg. We also found no discernable material pile-up at the residual impression edges, in contrast to reports of others.

An application of nanoindentation technique to measure bone tissue Lamellae properties

Measuring the microscopic mechanical properties of bone tissue is important in support of understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of many bone diseases. Knowledge about these properties provides a context for estimating the local mechanical environment of bone related cells thait coordinate the adaptation to loads experienced at the whole organ level. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of experimental testing parameters on nanoindentation measures of lamellar-level bone mechanical properties. Specifically, we examined the effect of specimen preparation condition, indentation depth, repetitive loading, time delay, and displacement rate. The nanoindentation experiments produced measures of lamellar elastic moduli for human cortical bone (average value of 17.7 +/- 4.0 GPa for osteons and 19.3 +/- 4.7 GPa for interstitial bone tissue). In addition, the hardness measurements produced results consistent with data in the literature (average 0.52 +/- 0.15 GPa for osteons and 0.59 +/- 0.20 GPa for interstitial bone tissue). Consistent modulus values can be obtained from a 500-nm-deep indent. The results also indicated that the moduli and hardnesses of the dry specimens are significantly greater (22.6% and 56.9%, respectively) than those of the wet and wet and embedded specimens. The latter two groups were not different. The moduli obtained at a 5-nm/s loading rate were significantly lower than the values at the 10- and 20-nm/s loading rates while the 10- and 20-nm/s rates were not significantly different. The hardness measurements showed similar rate-dependent results. The preliminary results indicated that interstitial bone tissue has significantly higher modulus and hardness than osteonal bone tissue. In addition, a significant correlation between hardness and elastic modulus was observed.

Effect of ultrastructural changes on the toughness of bone

The ultrastructure of bone can be considered as a conjunction between the biology and the biomechanics of the tissue. It is the result of cellular and molecular activities of bone formation, and its organization dominates the mechanical behavior of bone. Following this perspective, the objective of this review is to provide a current understanding of bone ultrastructure and its relationships with the toughness of the tissue. Therefore, we first provide a discussion on the organization of bone constituents, namely collagen, mineral, and water. Then, we present evidence on how the toughness of bone relates to its ultrastructure through the formation of micro damage. In addition, attention is given to how damage accumulation serves as a toughening mechanism. Finally, we describe how changes in the ultrastructure-caused by osteogenesis imperfecta, gamma irradiation, fluoride treatment, and aging affect the toughness and competence of bone.

Changing the structurally effective mineral content of bone with in vitro fluoride treatment

Bovine femur cortical bone specimens were tested in tension after being treated in vitro for 3 days with sodium fluoride solutions of different molarity (0.145, 0.5, and 2.0M). The treatments alter the mechanical properties of the bone samples with different degrees as compared to control samples (untreated). The mechanical properties of the treated samples have lower elastic modulus, yield and ultimate stress, acoustic impedance and hardness, and higher ultimate strain and toughness as compared to control samples. The observed effects were intensified with the increasing molarity of the treatment solutions. This study shows that the fluoride treatment can be used to investigate the composite behavior of bone tissue by altering the structurally important bone mineral content in a controlled manner.

Nanoindentation discriminates the elastic properties of individual human bone lamellae under dry and physiological conditions

Mechanical properties of single lamellae of human compact and trabecular bone tissue were measured with a combined atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoindentation technique. This combination allows for both characterization of bone surface topography and indentation of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM) with depths of between 100 and 600 nm. Four bone structural units (BSUs) were tested with 400 indents under dry conditions, and four BSUs with 160 indents were tested in a liquid cell under physiological conditions. A correspondence was established between the optical appearance of bone lamellae and the topography of the polished bone surface. The indentation modulus and hardness of bone ECM were investigated as a function of lamella type and indentation depth under wet and dry conditions. For low depth indents, thick lamellae showed a higher indentation modulus than thin lamellae. With increasing indentation depth, thick lamellae exhibited a significant decrease in indentation modulus and hardness, whereas, for thin lamellae, the effect of indentation depth was much less significant. These trends were similar for dry and physiological conditions and support compositional and/or ultrastructural differences between thick and thin lamellae.

[Otosclerosis and Van der Hoeven's syndrome: a contribution]

Morphological and microchemical changes that effect to the otosclerotic stape in the Van der Hoeve's syndrome were examined with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Using the Ca/P ratio as criterion--measured by the characteristic x-ray fluorescence--it was shown that the Van der Hoeve stape had a higher Ca/P ratio (2.6:1) as compared to the normal stape (2:1). The Van der Hoeve's syndrome lesions as poorly mineralized, with low calcium salt and apparent increase of phosphates. This finding indicates a possible change from hydroxyapatite (or apatite) to brushite, which imply an acidification of bone.

Osteocyte lacunar size-lamellar thickness relationships in human secondary osteons

Previous investigations carried out in our laboratory on secondary osteons have shown that osteocyte lacunae decrease in size from the cement line towards the Haversian canal, and lamellar bone is made up of alternating nonosteocytic dense lamellae and osteocytic loose lamellae, all having an interwoven texture of collagen fibers. Such alternation of acellular and cellular lamellae was hypothesized to depend on osteocyte recruitment from osteogenic laminae in successive layers, assuming that the loose lamellae form because of alignment and fusion of the periosteocytic loosely arranged collagen fibers. In order to discover whether a correlation really exists between osteocyte lacunar size and lamellar thickness, as would be expected if the above-mentioned hypothesis were true, both these parameters were measured in completed secondary osteons in relation to their distance from the Haversian canal. The size of osteocyte lacunae was measured under light microscopy on undecalcified dry-mounted ground section of tibial compact bone from three adult males and three adult females not affected by metabolic bone disease. The measurement of the thickness of bony lamellae was carried out on the same samples under scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analyses of the results showed that the decrease in size of osteocytic lacunae from the outer to the inner osteonal wall is paralleled by a decrease in thickness of osteocytic loose lamellae. The fact that acellular dense lamellae do not follow such a decremental pattern, but remain of the same thickness throughout the osteonic wall, corroborates Marotti's view that the formation of lamellar bone depends on the orderly distribution of the osteocytes in alternating planes. The topographical distribution of osteocyte lacunar size and lamellar thickness is briefly discussed in relation to secondary osteon mechanical function.

Knoop microhardness anisotropy of the ovine radius

The Knoop indenter has been used to characterise fully the Knoop microhardness (H(K)) anisotropy of compact bone. 2120 indentations were performed on mature ovine radii and a linear relationship was found between H(K) and the angle between the major diagonal of the indenter and the lamella boundaries (p<<0.001). H(K) increased significantly with ash fraction (p<0.001), but decreased with atmospheric vapour pressure (p<0.05). A significant interaction was found between ash fraction and atmospheric vapour pressure (p<0.01). H(K) significantly varied with indentation position along the diaphysis and around the cortex (both p<<0.001), however radial variation in H(K) was not statistically significant. The variation of ash fraction showed similar trends. These data show that H(K) varies similarly to Vickers microhardness, but in addition, can provide clear information on the anisotropy of Haversian bone without the need for excising many different indentation planes. A large number of indentations are required to obtain low type I and type II errors in the statistical analysis.

Correlative light and backscattered electron microscopy of bone--part II: automated image analysis

Detailed studies of biological phenomena often involve multiple microscopy and imaging modes and media. For bone biology, various forms of light and electron microscopy are used to study the microscopic structure of bone. Integrating information from the different sources is necessary to understand how different aspects of the bone structure interact. To accomplish this, methods were developed to prepare and image thin sections for correlative light microscopy (LM) and backscattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope (BSE-SEM). Images of the same fields of view may then be analyzed for degrees of relationships between specimen features not observed by LM or SEM alone. These methods are applied here to study possible associations between the degree of bone mineralization and pattern of collagen fiber orientation in the mid-shaft of the human femur. The "relational images" obtained allow us to examine the relationship between these two variables, both objectively and quantitatively.

Scanning electron microscopy images and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis of the stapes in otosclerosis and Van der Hoeve syndrome

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and microchemical changes that affect sclerotic stapes in otospongiosis and van der Hoeve syndrome.

METHODS

A scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive x-ray analyzer was used in the experiments.

RESULTS

In otosclerosis, focal lesions are poorly mineralized, with low calcium salt and reduced calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio (1.9:1). This finding correlates with a spongiotic type of lesion and indicates unstable mineralization with possible change from hydroxyapatite to calcium triphosphate. In van der Hoeve syndrome the presence of magnesium in stapes suggests osteoclastic function stimulation. The osteoclasts secrete many protons, causing an acidified microenvironment. Brushite is formed, and Ca/P ratio decreases in comparison with that of control patients (2.0:1 vs. 2.6:1).

Heterogeneity of bone lamellar-level elastic moduli

Advances in our ability to assess fracture risk, predict implant success, and evaluate new therapies for bone metabolic and remodeling disorders depend on our understanding of anatomically specific measures of local tissue mechanical properties near and surrounding bone cells. Using nanoindentation, we have quantified elastic modulus and hardness of human lamellar bone tissue as a function of tissue microstructures and anatomic location. Cortical and trabecular bone specimens were obtained from the femoral neck and diaphysis, distal radius, and fifth lumbar vertebra of ten male subjects (aged 40-85 years). Tissue was tested under moist conditions at room temperature to a maximum depth of 500 nm with a loading rate of 10 nm/sec. Diaphyseal tissue was found to have greater elastic modulus and hardness than metaphyseal tissues for all microstructures, whereas interstitial elastic modulus and hardness did not differ significantly between metaphyses. Trabecular bone varied across locations, with the femoral neck having greater lamellar-level elastic modulus and hardness than the distal radius, which had greater properties than the fifth lumbar vertebra. Osteonal, interstitial, and primary lamellar tissues of compact bone had greater elastic moduli and hardnesses than trabecular bone when comparing within an anatomic location. Only femoral neck interstitial tissue had a greater elastic modulus than its osteonal counterpart, which suggests that microstructural distinctions can vary with anatomical location and may reflect differences in the average tissue age of cortical bone or mineral and collagen organization.

Elastic modulus and hardness of cortical and trabecular bone lamellae measured by nanoindentation in the human femur

The mechanical properties of bone tissue are determined by composition as well as structural, microstructural and nanostructural organization. The aim of this study was to quantify the elastic properties of bone at the lamellar level and compare these properties among osteonal, interstitial and trabecular microstructures from the diaphysis and the neck of the human femur. A nanoindentation technique with a custom irrigation system was used for simultaneously measuring force and displacement of a diamond tip pressed 500 nm into the moist bone tissue. An isotropic elastic modulus was calculated from the unloading curve with an assumed Poisson ratio of 0.3, while hardness was defined as the maximal force divided by the corresponding contact area. The elastic moduli ranged from 6.9 +/- 4.3 GPa in trabecular tissue from the femoral neck of a 74 yr old female up to 25.0 +/- 4.3 GPa in interstitial tissue from the diaphyseal cortex of a 69 yr old female. The mean elastic modulus was found to be significantly influenced by the type of lamella (p < 10(-6)) and by donor (p < 10(-6)). The interaction between the type of lamella and the donor was also highly significant (p < 10(-6)). Hardness followed a similar distribution as elastic modulus among types of lamellae and donor, but with lower statistical contrast. It is concluded that the nanostructure of bone tissue must differ substantially among lamellar types, anatomical sites and individuals and suggests that tissue heterogeneity is of potential importance in bone fragility and adaptation.

Lamellar bone: structure-function relations

The term "bone" refers to a family of materials that have complex hierarchically organized structures. These structures are primarily adapted to the variety of mechanical functions that bone fulfills. Here we review the structure-mechanical relations of one bone structural type, lamellar bone. This is the most abundant type in many mammals, including humans. A lamellar unit is composed of five sublayers. Each sublayer is an array of aligned mineralized collagen fibrils. The orientations of these arrays differ in each sublayer with respect to both collagen fibril axes and crystal layers, such that a complex rotated plywood-like structure is formed. Specific functions for lamellar bone, as opposed to the other bone types, could not be identified. It is therefore proposed that the lamellar structure is multifunctional-the "concrete" of the bone family of materials. Experimentally measured mechanical properties of lamellar bone demonstrate a clear-cut anisotropy with respect to the axis direction of long bones. A comparison of the elastic and ultimate properties of parallel arrays of lamellar units formed in primary bone with cylindrically shaped osteonal structures in secondary formed bone shows that most of the intrinsic mechanical properties are built into the lamellar structure. The major advantages of osteonal bone are its fracture properties. Mathematical modeling of the elastic properties based on the lamellar structure and using a rule-of-mixtures approach can closely simulate the measured mechanical properties, providing greater insight into the structure-mechanical relations of lamellar bone.

Tissue response to nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite implants in marrow cavity

The tissue response to a nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite implanted in a marrow cavity was investigated by histology and scanning electron microscopy. A Knoop microhardness test was performed to compare the mechanical behavior of the composite and bone. The ultrastructural features of the composite, especially the carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite with low crystallinity and nanometer size, made it a bone-resembling material. It was bioactive, as well as biodegradable. At the interface of the implant and marrow tissue, solution-mediated dissolution and giant cell mediated resorption led to the degradation of the composite. Interfacial bone formation by osteoblasts was also evident. The process of implant degradation and bone substitution was reminiscent of bone remodeling. The composite can be incorporated into bone metabolism instead of being a permanent implant. For lack of the hierarchical organization similar to that of bone, the composite exhibited an isotropic mechanical behavior. However, the resistance of the composite to localized pressure could reach the lower limit of that of the femur compacta.

Microstructure and micromechanical properties of the mid-diaphyses of human fetal femurs

The microstructure, composition and the micromechanical properties across the thickness of femoral mid-diaphyses from 14 to 26 week human fetuses have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were employed to examine structural changes with maturation. The fetal bones consist of layers of woven bone. From young to old fetuses and from outer to inner bone layers, the collagen fibrils become more cross-linked, densely packed and change from disordered to an ordered arrangement. The collagen fibril bundles are also more preferentially oriented and change from a chiefly circumferential to longitudinal direction. The sizes of the apatite crystals also increase with age. The Ca/P ratio remains constant around 1.55 for all the bone layers except the outmost layer which is lower than 1.2. An nano-indenter was used to evaluate the microhardness and elastic modulus of each bone layer. The increase of microhardness and elastic modulus correlates with the maturation of bone. The mechanical properties of the mid-diaphyses of human fetal femurs are anisotropic, which is due to the preferential orientation of collagen fibrils.

Microhardness and anisotropy of the vital osseous interface and endosseous implant supporting bone

Limited information is available on the mechanical properties of the rapidly remodeling bone that surrounds endosseous implants. Fifteen implant-bone blocks were obtained from the mid-femoral diaphyses of three mature male hounds 12 weeks after placement of the implants. To evaluate the microhardness and cortical anisotropy of bone, the implants were sectioned along their long axes. In this process, the femurs were sectioned transversely. Knoop microhardness measurements (HK) were made with a 50 g force on cortical bone and a 25 g force on periosteal callus, endocortical callus, and circumferential lamellar bone. The long diagonal of the indenter was placed parallel to the implant (in the radial bone direction). Measurements were made in cortical bone at 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 microm from both sides of the implant. To detect cortical anisotropy in the radial compared with the tangential direction, a second set of indentations was made perpendicular to the first. Microhardness of periosteal callus and endocortical callus and anisotropy of circumferential lamellar bone near the endocortical surfaces of the femur were also evaluated. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower microhardness values (30.6 +/- 0.8 HK [mean +/- SEM]) for cortical bone at 200 microm than at any other location (range: 40.3-46.6 HK). Microhardness anisotropy was not detected in cortical bone. Furthermore, within 200 microm of the implant surface, the Knoop microhardness values were significantly lower for periosteal and endocortical calluses than for cortical bone. These data provide information about the mechanical properties of bone adjacent to endosseous implants at a microstructural level. The results are consistent with the high rate of remodeling seen adjacent to endosseous implants at 12 weeks after implantation.

Microhardness anisotropy of lamellar bone

The Knoop microhardness test has been utilised to observe in-plane microhardness anisotropy of rat tibiae. The elongated rhombohedral geometry of the Knoop indenter enables the Knoop microhardness (HK) to be calculated for a given indenter orientation. Two indenter orientations were used: the major axis of the indenter was aligned along the length of, and across the mid-sagittal section. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the variation in HK was primarily due to the orientation of the Knoop indenter (p < 0.001). HK was consistently greater when the indenter was aligned with the major diagonal radial on the mid-sagittal section.

Microstructure-microhardness relations in parallel-fibered and lamellar bone

Understanding the mechanical function of bone material in relation to its structure is a fascinating but very complicated problem to resolve. Part of the complexity arises from the hierarchical structural organization of bone. Microhardness measurements, initially on relatively simply structured parallel-fibered bone, show a marked anisotropy in three orthogonal directions. This may, in part, be due to the highly anisotropic structure of the basic building block of bone, the mineralized collagen fibril. Microhardness measurements made face-on to the layers of crystals and collagen triple helical molecules, show much lower values than those made edge-on to these layers. Microhardness measurements of the much more complex "rotated-plywood" structure of lamellar bone, reveal the well-known general tendency toward anisotropy in relation to the long axis of the bone. A detailed examination of microhardness-microstructure relations of lamellar bone, however, shows that only in certain orientations can microhardness values be related directly to a specific attribute of the lamellar structure. Clearly, the gradual tilting and rotating of the mineralized collagen fibrils that form this structure produce a material that tends toward having isotropic microhardness properties, even though its basic building block is highly anisotropic. This may be an important structural attribute that allows lamellar bone to withstand a variety of mechanical challenges.

Material and compositional properties of selectively demineralized cortical bone

Timed immersion in buffered ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used to selectively alter the mineral content at each level in the cortical bone structural hierarchy. The effects on the mechanical behavior were investigated using a combination of experimental techniques which provide collectively a wide range of resolution (5 microns to 3 mm). Optical microscopy and histological analysis demonstrated a heterogeneous structure consisting of a mineralized tissue core surrounded by a layer of demineralized tissue (collagen) whose thickness varied depending on the immersion time. The mechanical behaviors of treated samples with (intact) and without (core) the surrounding demineralized layer were evaluated using three-point flexure. Overall, the intact specimens became significantly less brittle with increased immersion time in buffered-EDTA. For the core specimens, there was a systematic decrease in the elastic flexural properties (E, sigma e, epsilon e). The site-specific properties of the specimens were determined using microhardness testing, scanning acoustic microscopy, and wavelength dispersive analysis. The mineralization and site-specific properties of the mineralized cores were not significantly affected by buffered-EDTA immersion; however, histomorphometric analysis showed a decrease in the mineralized volume fraction via widening of the pre-existing vascular channels. The experimental hierarchy was effective in discerning site-specific property changes and the localized heterogeneities resulting from the buffered-EDTA treatment. Based on the results of this study, buffered-EDTA treatment can be used to facilitate the determination of material and physical properties of intact and demineralized tissues within a single cortical bone sample.

Microhardness of bone at the interface with ceramic-coated metal implants

We evaluated bone microhardness at the interface with hydroxyapatite-coated stainless-steel pins used in an external fracture fixation system. Pins were transversally inserted into the diaphyses of sheep tibiae and were loaded in for 6 weeks. Uncoated pins were implanted as controls. Microhardness analysis, based on the measure of the resistance of the bone to the penetration of a small diamond pyramid, yielded an accurate and reproducible measure of the mineralization degree and of the orientation of collagen fibers. Bone tissue close to the pin is less hard than bone tissue far from it. Moreover, the presence of hydroxyapatite coating on the pins did not significantly affect bone hardness; actually, the mean hardness at the interface with the pins was 56.9 Vickers degrees, whereas at the interface with the uncoated pins it was 62.2. It can be concluded that, 6 weeks postsurgery, the bone growing into the threadings of a loaded screwed implant reached maturity at a degree lower than that of the host bone in both uncoated and coated implants.

Cranial bone apposition and ingrowth in a porous nickel-titanium implant

A 5 x 5 x 1-mm uncoated porous nickel-titanium (nitinol) implant was placed 4 mm to either side of the midsection of the frontal bone and 4 mm anterior to the coronal suture of the cranial bone of New Zealand White rabbits. In the other frontal location, a 5 x 5 x 1-mm coralline hydroxyapatite (HA) (Interpore 200, a well-known craniofacial implant material) implant was fitted. Rabbits were killed at each of three postsurgical intervals (2, 6, and 12 weeks), and the implants were evaluated for gross biocompatibility, bony contact, and ingrowth. No adjacent macrophage cells were observed for either implant type, and overlaying soft tissues and connective tissues readily adhered to the implants even after 2 weeks. Both materials made bone contact with the surrounding cranial hard tissue, and percent ingrowth increased with surgical recovery time. Measurements of microhardness and bone histologic parameters indicated that bone in contact with and grown into the implants was similar in properties to the surrounding cranial bone. Porous nitinol implants therefore appear to allow for significant cranial bone ingrowth after as few as 12 weeks, and thus nitinol appears to be suitable for craniofacial applications. Compared to HA, the nitinol implants demonstrated a trend for less total apposition and more total ingrowth after 6 and 12 weeks of implantation.

Morphological studies of hypomineralized enamel of rat pups on calcium-deficient diet, and of its changes after return to normal diet

BACKGROUND

Micro-hardness investigations have shown that rat pups nursed by mothers on a low calcium diet and weaned with the maternal calcium-deficient diet develop hypomineralized enamel. The inorganic and organic components of this enamel, their relationships, and their changes after return to normal diet have been studied by light and electron microscopy.

METHODS

The maturation zone of incisor enamel has been studied in: (1) rats nursed for 20 days by mothers on a low calcium diet and weaned for 30 days with the same diet (E1 enamel); (2) rats that after the calcium-deficient diet were fed normal diet for 10 days (E2 enamel); and (3) rats nursed for 20 days by mothers on a normal diet and weaned for 30 days with a normal diet (controls).

RESULTS

The results showed that E1 enamel was hypomineralized, as noted by its Azure II-Methylene blue stainability in undecalcified sections, its light staining with the von Kossa method, and its ultrastructure. E1 crystallites, although present throughout the whole enamel, were thinner than those of E2 enamel, which were similar to those of controls. E1 interrod crystallites were thicker in the intermediate than in the dentinal zone and were thicker than rod crystallites. Organic matrix was present throughout the whole E1 enamel. Its organic components (crystal ghosts) had the same shape, arrangement, and organization as those of inorganic crystallites. Crystal ghosts were greatly reduced in E2 enamel and in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The results lead to the conclusions that: (1) E1 enamel is hypomineralized, and its degree of calcification is restored by return to a normal calcium diet; (2) intra- and interprismatic calcification occurs in a different way; (3) crystallite thickness is initially greater in dentinal than in the superficial zone and is reversed as crystallite growth is completed; and (4) loss of enamel proteins is necessary for completion of crystallite growth and not for crystallite formation.

Mechanical properties of microcallus in human cancellous bone

Until now, the mechanical properties of the microcalluses that form in human cancellous bone have been unexplained. We measured the microhardnesses of microcalluses in cancellous bone, of the trabeculae within the microcalluses, of the trabeculae adjacent to microcalluses, and of trabeculae lacking microcalluses in a human tibia and femur. We observed no important differences between materials at the four different sites. Because the microhardness of bone is very closely related to its stiffness, this finding indicates that microcalluses are likely to stiffen the trabeculae in which they are formed, even though they may surround unhealed fractures of the cancellous trabeculae.

Comparison of the trabecular and cortical tissue moduli from human iliac crests

The purpose of this study was to design a method to produce and test mechanically microspecimens of trabecular and cortical tissue from human iliac crests, and compare their measured moduli. Rectangular beam specimens were prepared on a low-speed diamond blade saw and a miniature milling machine. The final specimen dimensions ranged from approximately 50-200 microns for base and height. The modulus of each specimen was measured using three-point bending tests across a span length of 1.04 mm and performed at a constant rate of displacement. A subset of specimens was recovered for a radiographic estimation of degree of mineralization. The results showed the mean trabecular tissue modulus of all iliac crest specimens to be 3.81 GPa, whereas cortical tissue specimens averaged 4.89 GPa. This was a significant difference according to a two-way analysis of variance that controlled for differences between donors. No strong correlations were found between modulus and mineral density. Future investigations that consider other microstructural characteristics and their contributions to modulus, and specimen size effects, are indicated.

Hardness, an indicator of the mechanical competence of cancellous bone

Hardness and calcium content in compact bone are strongly related. Variation in Young's modulus is produced mainly by variations in mineralisation. Therefore, there should be a relationship between hardness and Young's modulus. We demonstrate this. The calcium content of cancellous bone and adjacent compact bone in several species shows little difference, the cancellous bone having approximately 10% less calcium. The hardness of cancellous bone in Bos is approximately 12% less than that of adjacent compact bone, and the calcium is approximately 2% less. These lines of evidence make it unlikely that the Young modulus of cancellous bone material is much different from that of compact bone. Similar evidence suggests that the yield stress of cancellous bone is similar to that of adjacent compact bone.

Effects of a low calcium maternal and weaning diet on the thickness and microhardness of rat incisor enamel and dentine

The deposition and mineralization of incisor hard tissues have been studied in rat pups nursed by mothers on a low calcium diet or weaned with the maternal diet. Animals were killed at 30 days (control and low calcium diets; maternally fed) or 60 days (after 30 days weaning on maternal diet). The degree of mineralization of enamel and dentine was evaluated by a microhardness method on thick transverse sections. The enamel and dentine thickness, and the diameters of the incisor sections and pulp cavity were measured on microradiographs from the sections. Microhardness values of enamel were similar in groups killed after 30 days maternal feeding, but the microhardness of root enamel was 73-74% less in the low calcium-diet weaned group. Peripulpar dentine had mean microhardness values lower than controls in the group fed maternally for 30 days, whereas the whole root dentine appeared significantly less hard in the low calcium-diet weaned group than in the controls. A significant reduction of the incisor bucco-lingual diameter was observed only in this last experimental group. Enamel thickness was significantly lower in the roots of both experimental groups and in the necks of the low calcium weaned group. The reduction in dentine thickness was greater (from -30 to -56%); in the root it was more evident on the lingual aspect. Thus calcium deficiency in the mother's diet did not influence either the deposition or the mineralization of the pup's incisor enamel and dentine. However, when the offspring were weaned with the maternal calcium-deficient diet, mineralization of the tooth hard tissue was retarded.

The effect of porosity and mineral content on the Young's modulus of elasticity of compact bone

The Young's modulus of elasticity, the calcium content and the volume fraction (1-porosity) of 23 tension specimens and 80 bending specimens, taken from compact bone of 18 species of mammal, bird and reptile, were determined. There was a strong positive relationship between Young's modulus and both calcium content and volume fraction. A power law model fits the data better than a linear model. Young's modulus has a roughly cubic relationship with both calcium content and volume fraction. Over 80% of the total variation in Young's modulus in this data set is explained by these two variables.

Physical properties of autoclaved bone. Torsion test of rabbit diaphyseal bone

Structural properties of autoclaved diaphyseal bone in the rabbit were investigated by torsional test. Heat propagation into the bone was studied by means of thermocouples. The torsional test included 54 pairs of diaphyseal bones. Autoclaving was performed to the same degree of sterilization, although with variations of time and temperature. Standard autoclaving at 121 degrees C for 20 min was found to cause a moderate decrease (23 per cent) in torsional strength. The decrease was more pronounced (35 per cent) for bones autoclaved at 110 degrees C for 255 min and less (9 per cent) for those autoclaved at 131 degrees C for 2 min. Heat propagation into bone during autoclaving proved to be rapid at both 121 degrees C and 131 degrees C, indicating that complete, uniform sterilization of diaphyseal bone may be performed to an accurate, predetermined degree. Diaphyseal bone subjected to standard autoclaving remains mechanically adequate for skeletal substitution. Reimplantation of autoclaved tumorous bone might provide a simple combined means for tumor devitalization and subsequent reconstruction.

Long-term effects of high or low Ca intakes and of lack of parathyroid function on rat femur biomechanics

In order to assess the repercussion of chronically affected parathyroid function on bone biomechanics, 3-point flexion tests were carried out with fresh, whole femurs of young, intact rats fed diets with low, normal, or high Ca contents, and thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats fed normal Ca diet. Ca-restriction reduced, and TPTX augmented, inertial parameters and load-resistance of the whole femurs, not affecting the bending stress or the modulus of elasticity of the bone material, suggesting that parathyroid status affected bone mass and architecture without biomechanical alteration of bone tissue. High-Ca feeding enhanced tissue strength and stiffness as a direct effect, not altering bone geometry. The relationships between the energy-absorbing capacity of the whole bones or of the bone tissue, and the moment of inertia of the fracture sections in weight-paired animals showed that (1) in intact rats under normocalcic diet, the inertia of the section was unrelated to the whole-bone biomechanical performance, while bone section architecture depended on bone tissue biomechanical quality; and (2) in the absence of the parathyroids, or in chronically-induced hyperparathyroidism, this last relationship did not apply, but section architecture had a major influence on the whole-bone biomechanics, independently of physiological stresses. The evidence obtained can be interpreted to indicate that architectural changes brought about by the parathyroids contribute to the regulation of bone biomechanics by adapting organ inertial parameters to tissue quality.

The effect of Haversian remodeling on the tensile properties of human cortical bone

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Haversian remodeling on the tensile properties of human cortical bone by testing specimens containing, as far a possible, a single type of bone tissue. Fifty-one specimens were prepared from sixteen fresh tibias, removed at autopsy. Age range was 19-35. Regions were selected so that the specimens would consist almost exclusively of either primary bone or Haversian bone. The ultimate tensile strength, ultimate strain and Young's modulus of elasticity were determined at a loading rate of 0.05 mm s-1. The primary bone specimens were found to have a significantly higher ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity than those formed of Haversian bone.