Structure and remodelling of the human parietal bone: An age and gender histomorphometric study
Received 2 March 2009; accepted 22 July 2009. published online 29 January 2010.
Summary
Objective
Despite its clinical usefulness, the internal structure and remodelling of parietal bone remained poorly documented. The aim of this study was to gain reliable information on parietal bone remodelling in living humans.
Materials and methods
This study provided a site-specific analysis of static indices of turnover in relation to gender and age by using leftovers of parietal bone sampled in 100 patients (78 females; 22 males, aged 16–79 years).
Results
The bone architecture, cortical thickness, trabecular volume and cortical volume (C.Th, BV/TV, BV/CV) did not vary with gender. The number of osteoclasts (N.Oc/BPm) and the resorption surface (Oc.S/BS) were higher in females (p<0.05) when osteoclast resorbing activity did not vary with gender. Bone formation, osteoid surface (OS/BS) and surface covered by alkaline phosphatase-positive osteogenic cells (ALPS/BS) were higher in females (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). All these parameters remained stable with aging. The osteocytic parameters, number of osteocytes (Ot.N/B.Ar) and number of osteocyte lacunae (T.L.N/B.Ar) were higher in females (p<0.05) and decreased with age in both genders (p<0.01).
Conclusion
This study highlights the low and stable remodelling in the parietal bone. It appears to be higher in women. This stability probably reflects the low mechanical strains applied to the skull, particularly to the parietal bone.
1Laboratoire sur la Réparation et les Remodelages oro-faciaux, EA 2496, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Paris-Descartes, France
2Department of Oral Surgery, University of Sevilla, Spain
3Private Practice, 26 Avenue Kléber, 75016 Paris, France
Philippe LESCLOUS, PhD, Universite Paris-Descartes, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Laboratoire Réparation et Remodelages Oro-Faciaux, 1 rue Maurice Arnoux, 92120 Montrouge, France. Tel.: +33 158076794; Fax: +33 158076795.
ABSTRACT