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Cross-sectional geometry of the femoral diaphyseal cortical bones: analysis of central mass distribution

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Abstract

A detailed analysis of differences in skeletal shape among many individuals is expected to reveal the mechanical significance behind various morphological features. To confirm the distribution of the cortical bone region in cross sections, the relative position of the central mass distribution (CMD) of the cortical bone region to the CMD of the entire cross section was examined. A total of 90 right human femoral skeletons were examined using clinical multi-slice computed tomography. For nine cross sections of each femur, we determined the CMD of the whole area, including both cortical bone and medullary areas, as CMD-W, and that of the cortical bone region in the same cross section as CMD-C, and they were compared. The medial and anterior portion of the cortex was relatively thick just below the lesser trochanter. The posterior cortical bone tended to be relatively thick in the region from the center to the distal part of the diaphysis. Females had a significantly more medially deviated CMD than males throughout the entire diaphysis. These results suggest that femurs with advanced cortical bone thinning tend to have a concentration of cortical bone in their medial portion. CMD-C was located farther from the diaphysis axis as the degree of medial bending increased. Conversely, the greater the lateral bending of the diaphysis, the closer CMD-C was to the diaphysis axis. As the amount of bone decreases with age, self-adjustment could occur so that the cortical bone's critical area remains to prevent a decrease in mechanical strength.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind's overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Macroscopic Anatomy, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan

    Toshiyuki Tsurumoto, Daisuke Endo, Kazunobu Saiki, Takeshi Imamura, Kiyohito Murai & Keiko Ogami-Takamura

  2. Department of Oral Anatomy and Dental Anthropology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan

    Keita Nishi, Yoshitaka Manabe & Joichi Oyamada

  3. Department of Physical Therapy Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8520, Japan

    Junya Sakamoto

  4. Center of Cadaver Surgical Training, School of Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan

    Toshiyuki Tsurumoto, Daisuke Endo & Keiko Ogami-Takamura

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  1. Toshiyuki Tsurumoto
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  2. Daisuke Endo
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  3. Kazunobu Saiki
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  10. Keiko Ogami-Takamura
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Correspondence to Toshiyuki Tsurumoto.

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Tsurumoto, T., Endo, D., Saiki, K. et al. Cross-sectional geometry of the femoral diaphyseal cortical bones: analysis of central mass distribution. Anat Sci Int 98, 77–88 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-022-00676-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-022-00676-5

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