OSTEOCYTE ORIENTATION IN HUMAN LAMELLAR BONE AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE MORPHOMETRY OF PERIOSTEOCYTIC LACUNAE

The orientation of osteocyte lacunae in relation to the arrangement of collagen fibres has been analyzed in human lamellar osteonic bone. The results of microscopic observations under polarized and ordinary light and of measurements of the three main axes of the osteocyte lacunae show that the corresponding triaxial ellipsoid is oriented as follows: the major axis is always parallel to the length of the collagen fibres, in both longitudinally and transversely structured osteons; the intermediate and minor axes are respectively parallel and perpendicular to the surfaces of the lamellae which enclose the lacunae. The importance of these results is discussed in relation to the investigations of periosteocytic lacunae morphometry. © 1979.