title: Structure and remodelling of the human parietal bone: an age and gender histomorphometric study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite its clinical usefulness, the internal structure and remodelling of parietal bone remained poorly documented. The aim of this study was to gain reliable information on parietal bone remodelling in living humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study provided a site-specific analysis of static indices of turnover in relation to gender and age by using leftovers of parietal bone sampled in 100 patients (78 females; 22 males, aged 16-79 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bone architecture, cortical thickness, trabecular volume and cortical volume (C.Th, BV/TV, BV/CV) did not vary with gender. The number of osteoclasts (N.Oc/BPm) and the resorption surface (Oc.S/BS) were higher in females (p<0.05) when osteoclast resorbing activity did not vary with gender. Bone formation, osteoid surface (OS/BS) and surface covered by alkaline phosphatase-positive osteogenic cells (ALPS/BS) were higher in females (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). All these parameters remained stable with aging. The osteocytic parameters, number of osteocytes (Ot.N/B.Ar) and number of osteocyte lacunae (T.L.N/B.Ar) were higher in females (p<0.05) and decreased with age in both genders (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the low and stable remodelling in the parietal bone. It appears to be higher in women. This stability probably reflects the low mechanical strains applied to the skull, particularly to the parietal bone.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire sur la Réparation et les Remodelages oro-faciaux, EA 2496, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Paris-Descartes, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torres-Lagares
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tulasne
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pouget
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llorens
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Saffar
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lesclous
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult