Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture Evaluation in an Osteoporosis Mouse Model
Published on: September 8, 2023
TEM analysis of the nanostructure of normal and osteoporotic human trabecular bone
Matthew A Rubin1, Iwona Jasiuk, Jeannette Taylor
1The GWW School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA.
Abstract:
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to investigate the crystal-collagen interactions in normal and osteoporotic human trabecular bone at the nanostructural level. More specifically, two-dimensional TEM observations were used to infer the three-dimensional information on the shape, the size, the orientation, and the alignment of apatite crystals in collagen fibrils in normal and osteoporotic bone. We found that crystals were of platelet shape with irregular edges and that there was no substantial difference in crystal length or crystal thickness between normal and osteoporotic trabecular bone. The crystal arrangement in cross-sectioned fibrils did not neatly conform to the parallel arrangement of crystals seen in longitudinally-sectioned fibrils. Instead, the crystal arrangement in both normal and osteoporotic trabecular bone took on more of a random, undulated arrangement, with certain localized areas demonstrating circular oriented patterns. The TEM imaging was done using bright fields only. Thus, the results presented are within the limitations of this approach.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Remodeling
The Bone Matrix
Spongy Bone
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...
Bone Structure
Bone Cells and Tissue
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...

