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A Semi-Automatic Method for Intracortical Porosity Quantification With Application to Intraskeletal Variability

Cole, Mary Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397722882

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Anthropology.
Within human populations, differences in bone mass may be attributed to variation in environmental factors such as diet, health, and physical activity. Relative cortical area (RCA) and the parabolic index (PI) both quantify bone mass by calculating the percentage of a cross-section of bone occupied by the solid region of the cortex. Yet the cortex is not solid, being perforated with numerous vascular channels and resorptive spaces. By subtracting these porous voids from cortical area, anthropologists can avoid overestimations of bone mass that distort inferences about physical activity and health. This study presents a semi-automated protocol for quantifying the porosity of a cortex using brightfield microscopy. The protocol automatically differentiates between cortical pores and resorption bays that have coalesced to become “trabecularized” at the endosteal border. This expedited method does not produce significantly different values than those obtained by manually measuring each pore, as tested on a sample of eleven ribs (p = 0.532). Correction for cortical and total porosity significantly reduced values of RCA and PI in femora, tibiae, and ribs of nine individuals. Within single individuals, the rib had significantly greater trabecularized porosity than the femur (p < 0.0009) or tibia (p = 0.004). This trabecularization was localized to the cutaneous cortex of the rib (p = 0.011). Cyclical tension of this cortex during respiration may produce the mechanical loading and microdamage that drives this resorption bay coalescence at the endosteal border.
Samuel Stout, Dr. (Advisor)
Clark Larsen, Dr. (Committee Member)
Douglas Crews, Dr. (Committee Member)
Amanda Agnew, Dr. (Committee Member)
125 p.
Physical Anthropology
porosity; pore; haversian canal; vascular canal; resorption bay; trabecularization; intraskeletal variability; remodeling; resorption; brightfield microscopy; semi-automatic; relative cortical area; parabolic index

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cole, M. E. (2014). A Semi-Automatic Method for Intracortical Porosity Quantification With Application to Intraskeletal Variability [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397722882

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cole, Mary. A Semi-Automatic Method for Intracortical Porosity Quantification With Application to Intraskeletal Variability . 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397722882.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cole, Mary. "A Semi-Automatic Method for Intracortical Porosity Quantification With Application to Intraskeletal Variability ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1397722882

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1397722882
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.