Age Changes in the Bone Density and Structure of the Lumbar Vertebral Column

Overview

Journal J Anat

Specialty Anatomy & Histology

Date 1983 Jan 1

PMID 6833115

Citations 8

Authors

L Twomey

J Taylor

B Furniss

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Old age is associated with a decline in bone density in lumbar vertebral bodies in both sexes, although the rate and amount of the decline is greatest in females. The bone translucency index method, described in this study, is a sensitive method of estimating bone density. The primary reason for this decline is the significant decrease in the number of transverse trabeculae of lumbar vertebrae in old age. It is postulated that the increase in vertebral end plate concavity and the increased horizontal dimensions of lumbar vertebral bodies in old age follows as a direct consequence of the selective loss of the transverse trabeculae.

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