Early Trabecular Development in Human Vertebrae: Overproduction, Constructive Regression, and Refinement.

ABSTRACT: Early bone development may have a significant impact upon bone health in adulthood. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mass are important determinants of adult bone strength. However, several studies have shown that BMD and bone mass decrease after birth. If early development is important for strength, why does this reduction occur? To investigate this, more data characterizing gestational, infant, and childhood bone development are needed in order to compare with adults. The aim of this study is to document early vertebral trabecular bone development, a key fragility fracture site, and infer whether this period is important for adult bone mass and structure. A series of 120 vertebrae aged between 6 months gestation and 2.5 years were visualized using microcomputed tomography. Spherical v

SUBMITTER: Acquaah F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4458883 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature