Increase in pore area, and not pore density, is the main determinant in the development of porosity in human cortical bone

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Thomas, C. David L.¹; Feik, Sophie A.¹; Clement, John G.¹

Increase in pore area, and not pore density, is the main determinant in the development of porosity in human cortical bone

J Anat. August 2006;209(2):219-230

©2006 The Authors

Affiliations

¹School of Dental Science, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
Abstract and keywords

This study investigated the relative contributions of pore size and pore density (number of pores per mm2) to porosity in the midshaft of the human femur. Cross‐sections were obtained from 168 individuals from a modern Australian population (mostly Anglo‐Celtic). The study group comprised 73 females and 95 males, aged from 20 to 97 years. Microradiographs were made of 100‐µm sections and porosity, pore areas and pore densities determined using image processing software. The cortex was divided into three rings radially and into octants circumferentially, and the porosity, pore area and pore density of each segment were calculated. Results show that 81% of the variance in porosity can be explained by changes in mean pore area with only a further 12–16% explained by changes in pore density. These effects were found to be constant across all areas of the cortex and in both sexes. These results are significant in their consistency and ordered gradation and indicate a well‐regulated and systematic process of bone removal with ageing. The results show a regular progression from less porous to more porous bone; this is a uniform process that occurs in all individuals, and factors such as sex and rate of ageing determine where on this continuum any individual is at a particular time.

Keywords: bone ageing; femoral cortex; intracortical porosity; midshaft; pore number
Links

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00589.x

PubMed: 16879600

WoS: 000239334200007
History

Accepted: 2006-03-20

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Cited By (11)

Year	Entry
2007	Cooper DML, Thomas CDL, Clement JG, Turinsky AL, Sensen CW, Hallgrímsson B. Age-dependent change in the 3D structure of cortical porosity at the human femoral midshaft. Bone. April 2007;40(5):957-965.
2015	Nirody JA, Cheng KP, Parrish RM, Burghardt AJ, Majumdar S, Link TM, Kazakia GJ. Spatial distribution of intracortical porosity varies across age and sex. Bone. June 2015;75:88-95.
2018	Andreasen CM, Delaisse J-M, van der Eerden BCJ, van Leeuwen JPTM, Ding M, Andersen TL. Understanding age-induced cortical porosity in women: is a negative BMU balance in quiescent osteons a major contributor? Bone. December 2018;117:70-82.
2020	Andreasen CM, Bakalova LP, Brüel A, Hauge EM, Kiil BJ, Delaisse J-M, Kersh ME, Thomsen JS, Andersen TL. The generation of enlarged eroded pores upon existing intracortical canals is a major contributor to endocortical trabecularization. Bone. January 2020;130:115127.
2018	Andreasen CM, Delaisse J, van der Eerden BCJ, van Leeuwen JPTM, Ding M, Andersen TL. Understanding age-induced cortical porosity in women: the accumulation and coalescence of eroded cavities upon existing intracortical canals is the main contributor. J Bone Miner Res. April 2018;33(4):606-620.
2018	Bakalova LP, Andreasen CM, Thomsen JS, Brüel A, Hauge E-M, Kiil BJ, Delaisse J-M, Andersen TL, Kersh ME. Intracortical bone mechanics are related to pore morphology and remodeling in human bone. J Bone Miner Res. December 2018;33(12):2177-2185.
2021	Zendeli A, Bui M, Fischer L, Ghasem-Zadeh A, Schima W, Seeman E. High cortico-trabecular transitional zone porosity and reduced trabecular density in men and women with stress fractures. J Clin Med. March 8, 2021;10(5):1123.
2017	Bakalova LP. Relating Cortical Bone Mechanics to Intracortical Pore Morphology, Distribution and Remodeling History Within the Fibula Diaphysis [Master's thesis]. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 2017.
2015	Hunter RL. Variation in Cortical Osteocyte Lacunar Density and Distribution: Implications for Bone Quality Assessment [PhD thesis]. The Ohio State University; 2015.
2022	Davis RA. Investigating the Effects of Aging and Prolonged Opioid Use on Bone Histomorphometry, Quality, and Biomechanics [PhD thesis]. University of Akron; August 2022.
2021	Harrison KD. A Novel in Vivo Synchrotron Radiation Micro-CT Imaging Platform for the Direct Tracking of Remodeling Events in Cortical Bone [PhD thesis]. University of Saskatchewan; December 2021.