Abstract
The distal scapula and proximal humerus from each shoulder of nine adult dogs were slab-sectioned, cleaned of soft tissues, embedded in white plastic and stained black with a silver stain. These preparations were then photographed for automated, digital, morphometric analysis of subchondral bone structure. Comparison of transverse and coronal sections through the left and right shoulders demonstrated essential isometry of trabecular patterns within each bone. Comparison of the scapula and humerus revealed significant differences in bony architecture. The subchondral plate was an average of 5.6 times thicker under the glenoid fossa than in the opposing humeral head. Deeper trabecular structure also differed with the trabecular bone volume (density) in the humerus being greater than that in the scapula. This difference reflects a greater trabecular density in the humerus with comparable trabecular thickness in both bones. These structural differences are consistent with previous functional studies of the same two bones that revealed greater mechanical stiffness beneath the glenoid fossa and greater hydraulic resistance within the humeral head.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Behrens J. C., Walker P. S., Shoji H. Variations in strength and structure of cancellous bone at the knee. J Biomech. 1974 May;7(3):201–207. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(74)90010-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beigbeder M., Chappard D., Alexandre C., Vico L., Palle S., Riffat G. Improved algorithms for automatic bone histomorphometry on a numerized image analysis system. J Microsc. 1988 May;150(Pt 2):151–160. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1988.tb04605.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Downey D. J., Simkin P. A., Taggart R. The effect of compressive loading on intraosseous pressure in the femoral head in vitro. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988 Jul;70(6):871–877. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fazzalari N. L., Darracott J., Vernon-Roberts B. A quantitative description of selected stress regions of cancellous bone in the head of the femur using automatic image analysis. Metab Bone Dis Relat Res. 1983;5(3):119–125. doi: 10.1016/0221-8747(83)90012-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Merz W. A., Schenk R. K. Quantitative structural analysis of human cancellous bone. Acta Anat (Basel) 1970;75(1):54–66. doi: 10.1159/000143440. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Parfitt A. M., Mathews C. H., Villanueva A. R., Kleerekoper M., Frame B., Rao D. S. Relationships between surface, volume, and thickness of iliac trabecular bone in aging and in osteoporosis. Implications for the microanatomic and cellular mechanisms of bone loss. J Clin Invest. 1983 Oct;72(4):1396–1409. doi: 10.1172/JCI111096. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Revell P. A. Histomorphometry of bone. J Clin Pathol. 1983 Dec;36(12):1323–1331. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.12.1323. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schwartz M. P., Recker R. R. Comparison of surface density and volume of human iliac trabecular bone measured directly and by applied stereology. Calcif Tissue Int. 1981;33(6):561–565. doi: 10.1007/BF02409492. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simkin P. A., Downey D. J. Hypothesis: retrograde embolization of marrow fat may cause osteonecrosis. J Rheumatol. 1987 Oct;14(5):870–872. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simkin P. A., Graney D. O., Fiechtner J. J. Roman arches, human joints, and disease: differences between convex and concave sides of joints. Arthritis Rheum. 1980 Nov;23(11):1308–1311. doi: 10.1002/art.1780231114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simkin P. A., Houglum S. J., Pickerell C. C. Compliance and viscoelasticity of canine shoulders loaded in vitro. J Biomech. 1985;18(10):735–743. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(85)90048-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simkin P. A., Pickerell C. C., Wallis W. J. Hydraulic resistance in bones of the canine shoulder. J Biomech. 1985;18(9):657–663. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(85)90021-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whitehouse W. J., Dyson E. D., Jackson C. K. The scanning electron microscope in studies of trabecular bone from a human vertebral body. J Anat. 1971 Apr;108(Pt 3):481–496. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whitehouse W. J. The quantitative morphology of anisotropic trabecular bone. J Microsc. 1974 Jul;101(Pt 2):153–168. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1974.tb03878.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]