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Spongy Bone

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All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the 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...
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Classification of Bones01:18

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The bones of the human skeletal system are of varied shapes, sizes, and functions. They can be classified based on their shape and function into four major classes: long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. Some classifications include a fifth type, the sesamoid bones, as a separate class, whereas others categorize them under short bones.
Long and Short Bones
The appendicular skeleton, particularly the upper and lower limbs, is primarily made of long and short bones. The...
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Compact Bone01:27

Compact Bone

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Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
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Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

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The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the...
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Bone Structure01:55

Bone Structure

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Within the skeletal system, the structure of a bone, or osseous tissue, can be exemplified in a long bone, like the femur, where there are two types of osseous tissue: cortical and cancellous.
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Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula01:10

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The tibia is the main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. It is larger than the fibula with which it is paired. The tibia is also the second longest bone in the body and is located right below the skin. The proximal end of the tibia forms the medial and the lateral condyle, which articulates with the condyles of the femur to form the knee joint. Between the articulating surfaces is the irregular elevated area known as the intercondylar eminence that serves as the inferior attachment point for...
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Related Experiment Video

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Author Spotlight: An Economic and Efficient Method for Quantitative Evaluation of Bone Microarchitecture in a Murine Osteoporosis Model
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Trabecular bone structural variation throughout the human lower limb.

Jaap P P Saers1, Yasmin Cazorla-Bak1, Colin N Shaw1

  • 1PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Division of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Journal of Human Evolution
|July 27, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Trabecular bone structure in the lower limb reflects terrestrial mobility. Higher mobility in foragers correlates with specific bone microstructural differences, validating its use for reconstructing past behaviors.

Keywords:
Bone functional adaptationCanalizationFunctional morphologyMobilityPlasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Biomechanics
  • Skeletal Biology

Background:

  • Trabecular bone's response to mechanical loading offers potential for inferring past behaviors from fossil morphology.
  • Understanding trabecular bone integration and local variability is crucial for interpreting hominin fossil records.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate trabecular bone integration and local variability in the lower limb.
  • To compare trabecular bone structure between highly mobile foragers and sedentary agriculturalists.
  • To determine if trabecular bone patterns reflect inferred behavioral differences and are consistent throughout the limb.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified trabecular bone structure in the proximal and distal femur and tibia of three distinct populations.
  • Compared bone structure across four volumes of interest to assess integration and local variation.
  • Correlated microstructural properties with inferred levels of terrestrial mobility.

Main Results:

  • Significant correlation found between inferred mobility levels and trabecular bone structure across all lower limb regions.
  • Higher terrestrial mobility in foragers associated with increased bone volume fraction and reduced connectivity density.
  • Proximodistal decrease in bone volume fraction and increase in anisotropy observed in all populations, mirroring cortical bone patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Lower limb trabecular bone microstructure is a valid indicator of terrestrial mobility in archaeological and fossil records.
  • Habitual activity significantly influences trabecular bone structure, necessitating careful consideration when interpreting hominin fossils.
  • A consistent pattern of trabecular structure exists throughout the lower limb, with superimposed signals of mobility.