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Histological study of compact bone tissue in some mammals: a method for species determination
Author(s) -
Martiniaková M.,
Grosskopf B.,
Omelka R.,
Dammers K.,
Vondráková M.,
Bauerová M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.856
Subject(s) - osteon , perimeter , bone tissue , anatomy , biology , vascular tissue , resorption , pathology , cortical bone , medicine , mathematics , botany , geometry , endocrinology
The purpose of this investigation was to study compact bone tissue microstructure of some mammals in terms of qualitative and quantitative characteristics, with an emphasis on finding an adequate identification key. Altogether, 36 femora of adult pigs, cows, sheep and rabbits were analysed. The qualitative characteristics were examined according to the classification systems of Enlow & Brown (1956) and Ricqlès et al . (1991) in anterior, posterior, medial and lateral views of thin sections. The quantitative characteristics were assessed using the specific software Scion Image (Scion Corporation, US). We measured area, perimeter, and minimum and maximum diameter of the Haversian canals, the secondary osteons and the vascular canals of primary osteons. The observed data were first used to evaluate inter‐ and intra‐species diversity. After that a discriminant function analysis was used for species determination. According to our results the basic structural pattern of the bone tissue was primary vascular plexiform in pigs, cows and sheep. We found dense Haversian bone tissue in all species. In addition, non‐vascular bone tissue was identified in cows and/or primary vascular longitudinal tissue in rabbits. Many resorption lacunae were found between secondary osteons in pigs. The irregular Haversian bone tissue was localised at the periosteal and endosteal borders in sheep. Classification functions for all investigated species gave a correct classification in 73.83% of cases. The most discriminating variables for the compact bone tissue appeared to be perimeter and minimum diameter of primary osteon's vascular canals. The percentage value can be increased by integrating conclusions from the qualitative analysis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.