Observations on eburnated bone.
Eburnated bone in osteoarthritic joints has been examined with the Scanning Electron Microscope to investigate the cause of the bone loss which occurs at the joint surface in this condition. In eburnated bone the lamellae surrounding the Haversian canals can readily be seen. After artificial abrasion the surface is flat and featureless. After treatment with agents which leach out some of the ground substance the lamellae can again be seen. These observations indicate both corrosive wear and abrasive wear play a part in producing eburnation.
D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*