On the histologic measurement of osteonal BMU activation frequency.
When cortical bone is remodeled by osteonal basic multicellular units (BMUs), activation frequency is defined as the number of new BMUs created per unit volume of cortex per unit time. When osteonal remodeling is histomorphometrically analyzed, a different definition of activation frequency is usually used; it is equivalent to the number of previously activated BMUs reaching the plane of the section per unit area per unit time. Using simple geometric analysis, it is shown that the latter histologic measurement is equal to the former definition multiplied by the mean distance that a BMU tunnels before it ceases its activity.
Martin
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Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento 95817.
D000818:Animals; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000502:physiology*; D008853:Microscopy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D012394:Rosaniline Dyes