Local ultrasonic wave velocities in trabeculae measured by micro-Brillouin scattering

Ultrasonic wave velocities in trabeculae of distal end of bovine femurs were measured using micro-Brillouin scattering (μ-BR). μ-BR allows the measurement of wave velocities in a small area (diameter, 10 μm). Trabecular structure and alignment were evaluated with x-ray micro-computed tomography techniques before μ-BR measurements. Wave velocities in rod-type trabeculae [4.90 × 10(3) m/s with standard deviation (SD) of 0.05 × 10(3) m/s] were higher than those in plate-type trabeculae (4.79 × 10(3) m/s with SD of 0.05 × 10(3) m/s). The elastic properties of trabeculae appeared to change with trabecular type and direction of trabecular alignment.