Changes in size of lacunae during the life of osteocytes in osteons of compact bone

The cross-sectional areas of 739 lacunae from 31 osteons of gibbon femur, gibbon ulna, and human humerus were measured and compared on the basis of their distance from the osteon canal. There was great variation in size of lacunae at all distances, but the mean size of lacunae adjacent to the canal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of gerontology (Kirkwood) Vol. 30; no. 1; p. 9
Main Authors Yeager, V L, Chiemchanya, S, Chaiseri, P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.1975
Subjects
Animals
Bone Development
Bone Resorption
Female
Femur - growth & development
Hominidae
Humans
Humerus - growth & development
Osteocytes - physiology
Physiology, Comparative
Statistics as Topic
Ulna - growth & development
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Summary:The cross-sectional areas of 739 lacunae from 31 osteons of gibbon femur, gibbon ulna, and human humerus were measured and compared on the basis of their distance from the osteon canal. There was great variation in size of lacunae at all distances, but the mean size of lacunae adjacent to the canal and of those in the periphery of the osteon were larger than the mean size of lacunae found intermediate in position. This was interpreted to mean that new osteocytes continue to form bone, thus decreasing the size of their lacunae, but later in their life cycle, enlarge their lacunae through bone absorption. The great variation in size was interpreted to be evidence for alteration of function of osteocytes.
ISSN:0022-1422
DOI:10.1093/geronj/30.1.9