Gender differences in vertebral sizes in adults: biomechanical implications.

Gilsanz, Vicente; Boechat, M. Ines; Gilsanz, R; Loro, M L; Roe, Thomas; Goodman, William G.

doi:10.1148/radiology.190.3.8115610

Cited by 197 publications

(136 citation statements)

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“…In fact, when the absolute values of the cortical and trabecular densities were compared, they seemed to be virtually constant between players and controls, and across the bone sites, except the distal radius. This finding is similar to other CT studies where the volumetric density of cortical and trabecular bone has been shown to be fairly similar between children at different ages, and between men and women, 2,[15][16][17]36 and where the higher areal bone mineral density and ultimate bone strength in older children and men were due to larger bone size, not volumetric density of bone. In contrast to our study, Rico et al 33 found a significantly larger total and cortical volumetric density, but not trabecular density of the dominant distal radius, compared with the nondominant counterpart of sedentary right-handed adult subjects.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Concern about bone size and geometry, however, becomes relevant with patients of unusual size (either small or large), especially in situations where the bone size or geometry may change during the study, such as in studies of growing children or in those evaluating the effects of different exercise regimens on bone. 6,7,14,[15][16][17]19,25,39,40 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of the upper extremity bones in male tennis players and their sedentary controls using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). 38 We were especially interested in determining whether there were differences in bone size and geometry between the loaded and nonloaded arms of the players.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exercise-induced bone gain is due to enlargement in bone size without a change in volumetric bone density: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study of the upper arms of male tennis players

Haapasalo

Kontulainen

Sievänen

et al. 2000

Bone

405

297

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Bilateral bone characteristics of the humerus (proximal, shaft, and distal sites) and radius (shaft and distal sites) in 12 former Finnish national-level male tennis players (mean age 30 years) and their 12 age-, height-, and weight-matched controls were measured with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). The pQCT variables analyzed were bone mineral content (BMC), total cross-sectional area of bone (Tot.Ar), cross-sectional area of the marrow cavity (M.Cav.Ar), cortical bone (Co.Ar) and trabecular bone (Tr.Ar), volumetric density of cortical (Co.Dn) and trabecular (Tr.Dn) bone, cortical wall thickness (Co.Wi.Th), bone strength index (BSI), and principal moments of inertia (I min and I max ). In the players, significant side-to-side differences, in favor of the dominant (playing) arm, were found in BMC (ranging 14%-27%), Tot.Ar (16%-21%), Co.Ar (12%-32%), BSI (23%-37%), I min (33%-61%), and I max (27%-67%) at all measured bone sites, and in Co.Wi.Th. (5%-25%) at the humeral and radial shafts, and distal humerus. The side-to-side M.Cav.Ar difference was significant at the proximal humerus (19%) and radial shaft (29%). Concerning the players' Co.Dn and Tr.Dn, the only significant side-toside difference was found in the Co.Dn of the distal humerus, with the playing arm showing a slightly smaller Co.Dn than the nonplaying arm (؊2%). In controls, significant dominant-tonondominant side differences were also found, but with the majority of the differences being rather small, and significantly lower than those of the players. In conclusion, despite the large side-to-side differences in BMC, the volumetric bone density (Co.Dn, Tr.Dn) was almost identical in the dominant and nondominant arms of the players and controls. Thus, the players' high playing-arm BMC was due to increases in the Tot.Ar, M.Cav.Ar, Co.Ar, and CW.Th. In other words, the playing arm's extra bone mineral, and thus increased bone strength, was mainly due to increased bone size and not due to a change in volumetric bone density. These upper arm results may not be generalized to the entire skeleton, but the finding may give new insight into conventional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based bone density measurements when interpreting the effects of exercise on bone. (Bone 27:351-357; 2000)

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise-induced bone gain is due to enlargement in bone size without a change in volumetric bone density: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study of the upper arms of male tennis players

Haapasalo

Kontulainen

Sievänen

et al. 2000

Bone

405

297

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Both these variables (bone size and density) influence fracture risk. [12][13][14] Fracture risk is also dependent upon the geometry and architecture of particular skeletal sites. At the hip, prospective studies suggest that the length of the hip axis is positively associated with fracture risk, 15 and that this association is independent of bone density.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth in infancy and bone mass in later life

Cooper¹,

Egger²,

Fall³

et al. 1995

Bone

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Objective-To examine the association between weight in infancy and bone mass during the seventh decade of life in a population based cohort for which detailed birth and childhood records were preserved. Methods-189 women and 224 men who were aged 63-73 years and were born in East Hertfordshire underwent bone densitometry by dual energy x ray absorptiometry. Measurements were also made of serum osteocalcin and urinary excretion of type 1 collagen cross linked N-telopeptide. Results-There were statistically significant associations between weight at 1 year and bone mineral content (but not bone mineral density) at the spine (P < 0.02) and femoral neck (P < 0.01) among women, and spine (P < 0.03) among men. Although serum osteocalcin was negatively correlated with bone mineral density at both sites among men and women, infant weight was not significantly associated with either biochemical marker of bone turnover. Conclusions-These data confirm our previous observations that growth in infancy is associated with skeletal size in adulthood, and suggest that skeletal growth may be programmed during intrauterine or early postnatal life.

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“…However, it is unknown whether patterns of osteophyte production are similar in males and females. Given that there are sex differences in age-related changes in bone mineral density in the vertebral column (2) and differences in the absolute and relative sizes of vertebral bodies (3)(4)(5), this merits further investigation. Other anatomical regions, including the pubic symphysis, have been shown to exhibit substantial sex differences in age-related changes (e.g., 6-8).…”

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confidence: 99%

Sex Differences and Aging of the Vertebral Column

Snodgrass

2004

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Morphological changes in the adult human skeleton have been recognized as useful for estimating the age at death. In the vertebral column, the development of osteophytes has been shown to be a general indicator of age, although substantial variation has been documented. The technique used for estimating age from osteophyte development is based exclusively on males and it is unknown whether patterns of osteophyte development are comparable between the sexes. This study examines sex differences in osteophyte development in the thoracic and lumbar regions of 384 individuals from the Terry Collection. Males and females in this sample show remarkably similar patterns of age-related changes in osteophyte development; however, females show greater variability in osteophyte stage for a given age. This was confirmed with age-matching a subsample of 128 individuals. Therefore, slightly larger confidence intervals should be used when assessing age from the vertebral column in females.KEYWORDS: forensic science, forensic anthropology, vertebral osteophyte, spondylosis, age determination Morphological changes in the skeleton of adults can be important indicators of age and have been used extensively in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. These aging techniques have generally focused on the pelvis, including the pubic symphysis and the auricular surface, and the sternal ends of the ribs. However, degenerative changes in the vertebral column-in the form of osteophytes or bony lipping on the margins of the vertebral centra-have been shown to be useful indicators of age (1). Stewart recorded substantial variation in osteophyte development with age and cautioned "osteophytosis by itself does not permit close ageing (sic) of the skeleton" (1). While osteophyte development may allow only a general assessment of age at death, it can be important for establishing upper or lower limits on age. Additionally, this technique can be used in conjunction with other methods or when other skeletal elements more commonly used in aging are unavailable. One limitation of the technique is that it is based exclusively on males.The objective of this study is to examine osteophyte production in a large sample of adult females and males to establish patterns of morphological changes and to examine potential sex differences. The investigation of sex differences in age-related changes has important implications in forensic anthropology. Without information on patterns of osteophyte development in females, criteria for males are often substituted to estimate age at death. However, it is unknown whether patterns of osteophyte production are similar in males and females. Given that there are sex differences in age-related changes in bone mineral density in the vertebral column (2) and differences in the absolute and relative sizes of vertebral bodies (3-5), this merits further investigation. Other anatomical regions, including the pubic symphysis, have been shown to exhibit substantial sex differences in age-related changes (e.g., 6-8). Me...

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Gender differences in vertebral sizes in adults: biomechanical implications.

Abstract: Smaller vertebral bodies in women confer biomechanical disadvantages that may contribute to more vertebral fractures in elderly women.

Cited by 197 publications

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Exercise-induced bone gain is due to enlargement in bone size without a change in volumetric bone density: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study of the upper arms of male tennis players

Exercise-induced bone gain is due to enlargement in bone size without a change in volumetric bone density: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study of the upper arms of male tennis players

Growth in infancy and bone mass in later life

Sex Differences and Aging of the Vertebral Column

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