THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRABECULAE OF CANCELLOUS BONE .2. LONG BONES AND MASTOID

The trabeculae of the mastoid, the upper end of the femur, and the tibia were examined to ascertain whether they contain vascular channels according to a pattern similar to that observed in the calcaneus. The trabeculae were serially sectioned in transverse planes. Each section was microradiographed and photographed under ordinary and polarized light. On the photos of the individual sections (1) the number of the vascular channels, (2) the thickness of the trabecular segments with or without osteons, and (3) the maximum distance of the osteocytic lacunae from filtering surfaces (i.e., haversian canal walls or trabecular surfaces), were evaluated. About 80% of the vascular channels are haversian. Their frequency increases through the increase of the trabecular thickness and reaches 100% in those thicker than 428 μm. The distance of the deep-seated osteocytes from filtering surfaces appears almost the same in the thinner trabeculae, devoid of osteons, and in the thicker ones, containing osteons. Evidence is provided that osteons are present in numerous spongy trabeculae. Osteon formation is strictly related to the trabecular thickness so that the distance of the osteocytes from filtering surfaces does not exceed the critical value of 230 μm (in the mastoid). These findings are in agreement with those recorded in the calcaneus spongiosa. As the trabeculae studied in this research and those of the calcaneus are submitted to different mechanical loads, the main function of the endotrabecular osteons is conceivably to improve the deep-seated cell metabolism rather than the mechanical resistance of the trabeculae. On the other hand, the circumstance that most of the osteons are secondary indicates that they participate to the renewal of bone tissue. © 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.