Although adult skeletal morphological variation is best understood within the framework of age-related processes, relatively little research has been directed towards the structure of and variation in trabecular bone during ontogeny. We report here new quantitative and structural data on trabecular bone microarchitecture in the proximal tibia during growth and development, as demonstrated in a subadult archaeological skeletal sample from the Late Prehistoric Ohio Valley. These data characterize the temporal sequence and variation in trabecular bone structure and structural parameters during ontogeny as related to the acquisition of normal functional activities and changing body mass. The skeletal sample from the Fort Ancient Period site of SunWatch Village is composed of 33 subadult and three young adult proximal tibiae. Nondestructive microCT scanning of the proximal metaphyseal and epiphyseal tibia captures the microarchitectural trabecular structure, allowing quantitative structural analyses measuring bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number. The microCT resolution effects on structural parameters were analyzed. Bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy are highest at birth, decreasing to low values at 1 year of age, and then gradually increasing to the adult range around 6-8 years of age. Trabecular number is highest at birth and lowest at skeletal maturity; trabecular thickness is lowest at birth and highest at skeletal maturity. The results of this study highlight the dynamic sequential relationships between growth/development, general functional activities, and trabecular distribution and architecture, providing a reference for comparative studies.
The biocultural interpretation of skeletal remains is based upon the foundation of skeletal biology. In this review we examine the current state of skeletal biology research outside of the mainstream anthropology literature. The focus is on the structural changes of bone development and growth, and modeling and repair in the four bone surfaces: periosteal, Haversian, endosteal, and trabecular. The pattern of skeletal changes is placed within the framework of the human life span. New perspectives and direction of research on the environmental, biological, and genetic influences on modeling and remodeling processes are discussed chronologically at each bone surface. Implications for biological anthropologists are considered. This approach emphasizes variation in skeletal biology as a dynamic record of development, maturity, and aging. Skeletal biology has taken on a central role in a range of research areas that pertain to living and past primates, including humans. In this review we aim to examine the current state of understanding of skeletal biology, linking the morphology and structural changes of bone development, growth, remodeling, and repair within, on, and between the four surfaces of bone: periosteal, cortical/haversian, endosteal, and trabecular. The pattern of changes is placed within the framework of the human life span. Of specific interest are the age-associated and bone surface-specific influences of hormonal changes, the molecular and biochemical microenvironment of bone, and the mechanical environment on bone density, geometry, and microarchitecture. These types of biological data intersect with skeletal growth, development, and bone maintenance. The variations and perturbations of these processes provide physical anthropologists the opportunities and tools to interpret biocultural and behavioral aspects of ancient and recent human groups, such as bone mass accrual during subadult years and bone loss in later years. This contribution to the anthropological skeletal biology literature underscores the highly dynamic nature of skeletal tissues. It references the growing recognition that the mechanical and nutrient environment strongly influences bone beginning in utero and continues throughout life. Our goal is not to provide an exhaustive review of the bone biology or related bioanthropology literature, but rather to provide research perspectives currently being explored by bone science outside of anthropology-specific literature, that contribute to the growing discussion of the such issues as development and aging. BONE ENVELOPES AND THEIR SURFACESBone is composed of two major compartments or envelopes in which modeling and remodeling occur, namely periosteal and endocortical. These, in turn, have the following available surfaces: periosteal, intracortical, endosteal, and trabecular (Martin et al., 1998; see Fig. 1). The modeling process involves the independent actions of bone formation and bone resorption on different surfaces, whereas the remodeling process involves the sequentially sy...
Ontogenetic growth processes in human long bones are key elements, determining the variability of adult bone structure. This study seeks to identify and describe the interaction between ontogenetic growth periods and changes in femoral and tibial diaphyseal shape. Femora and tibiae (n 5 46) ranging developmentally from neonate to skeletally mature were obtained from the Norris Farms No. 36 archeological skeletal series. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography scans were collected. Wholediaphysis cortical bone drift patterns and relative bone envelope modeling activity across ages were assessed in five cross-sections per bone (total bone length: 20%, 35%, 50%, 65%, and 80%) by measuring the distance from the section centroid to the endosteal and periosteal margins in eight sectors using ImageJ. Pearson correlations were performed to document and interpret the relationship between the cross-sectional shape (I max / I min ), total subperiosteal area, cortical area, and medullary cavity area for each slice location and age for both the femur and the tibia. Differences in cross-sectional shape between age groups at each cross-sectional position were assessed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. The data reveal that the femoral and tibial midshaft shape are relatively conserved throughout growth; yet, conversely, the proximal and distal femoral diaphysis and proximal tibial diaphysis appear more sensitive to developmentally induced changes in mechanical loading. Two time periods of accelerated change are identified: early childhood and prepuberty/adolescence. Anat Rec, 296:774-787, 2013. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Key words: bone biology; ontogeny; cortical bone geometry Growth-related changes in human long bone morphology and biomechanical features are key elements for understanding the variability and functional significance of adult bone structure (Smith and Buschang, 2004;Ruff, 2005). The heterogeneity of long bone diaphyseal shape and size variation occurs during ontogeny and is
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.