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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates
Published on: February 2, 2015
Iliac cortical thickness in the neonate - the gradient effect
Craig A Cunningham1, Sue M Black
1Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK. c.a.cunningham@dundee.ac.uk
Insights
The neonatal ilium exhibits distinct compact bone patterning before walking, revealing early development independent of weight-bearing. This study maps iliac cortical bone thickness in newborns, offering insights into early pelvic development.
Area of Science:
- Human anatomy
- Developmental biology
- Orthopedic research
Background:
- Recent studies highlight neonatal ilium trabecular bone patterning.
- Cortical bone organization in the developing ilium remains poorly understood.
- Early bone development occurs before significant weight-bearing activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical bone thickness in the human neonatal ilium.
- To analyze the distribution and patterning of compact bone in early development.
- To understand the relationship between trabecular and cortical bone in the neonatal pelvis.
Main Methods:
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans of 30 neonatal ilia.
- Measurement of cortical bone thickness in gluteal and pelvic regions.
- Analysis of specific regions of interest on the iliac cortices.
Main Results:
- Distinct patterning of cortical bone thickness was observed in both gluteal and pelvic iliac shells.
- The observed pattern aligns with early bone modeling and remodeling processes.
- Iliac cortical bone organization shows a specific structure prior to locomotive influences.
Conclusions:
- The neonatal ilium displays a defined cortical bone structure independent of stance-related loading.
- This early patterning is crucial for understanding pelvic development before functional demands.
- The findings provide a baseline for studying the biomechanical influences on pelvic bone structure.
Abstract:
Recent studies of the neonatal ilium are beginning to reveal that a recognizable structural patterning of trabecular bone is present in the absence of any direct stance-related weight transfer. However, little is known about the organization of compact bone in the ilium and the way in which it is laid down during the earliest stages of development. This study investigates cortical bone thickness across both gluteal and pelvic iliac shells in the human neonatal ilium. Measurements of specific regions of interest on the iliac cortices were recorded using reconstructed micro-computed tomography scans from 30 neonatal ilia. Analysis of gluteal and pelvic cortical thicknesses revealed a distinctive patterning consistent with the expected bone distribution achieved through early bone modelling and remodelling. The analysis of this pattern is important for understanding the relationship between trabecular bone patterning and cortical bone structure in the earliest stages of pelvic development prior to locomotive influences and its response to the specific functional forces acting during this period.
