Andronowski Janna M, Pratt Isaac V, Cooper David M L
Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3908.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017 Nov;164(3):635-642. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.23297. Epub 2017 Aug 19.
Differentiating human from nonhuman fragmented bone is often accomplished using histological methods if the observation of gross morphology proves insufficient. Linearly oriented primary and/or secondary osteonal systems, commonly referred to as osteon bands, are described as a strong indicator of nonhuman bone, particularly the occurrence of multiple bands. This phenomenon has been conventionally documented using two-dimensional (2D) histology, but such analyses are destructive and typically limited to a single cross-section. Progressive developments in high-resolution X-ray imaging, however, allow for the nondestructive three-dimensional (3D) visualization of bone microarchitecture. The primary objective of the current research was to visualize and document the occurrence of osteon banding in adult human cortical bone using high-resolution synchrotron radiation-based micro-Computed Tomography (SR micro-CT).
Synchrotron radiation-based micro-CT scanning was carried out at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) national synchrotron facility. The presence or absence of osteon banding was visualized in human skeletal elements from three adult males with representative samples from all regions of the skeleton (n = 129). If present, osteon banding was described and quantified.
Results indicated that 23 of 129 human cortical bone specimens exhibited osteon banding, representing 18% of the sample. Linear arrangements of primary and/or secondary osteons were observed in the following skeletal elements: temporal, parietal, frontal, occipital, clavicle, mandible, femur, tibia, ulna, second metatarsal, and sacrum.
The present work represents the first 3D examination of inter-element variation in osteon banding in adult human cortical bone. Findings indicate that the presence of multiple osteon bands in a single specimen is not diagnostic of nonhuman bone. As such, osteon banding categorically should not be taken as evidence of nonhuman bone in forensic and archaeological contexts.
如果大体形态观察不足以区分人类和非人类的碎骨，通常会使用组织学方法来进行区分。线性排列的初级和/或次级骨单位系统，通常称为骨单位带，被描述为非人类骨骼的有力指标，尤其是多条带的出现。这种现象传统上是通过二维（2D）组织学记录的，但此类分析具有破坏性，并且通常仅限于单个横截面。然而，高分辨率X射线成像技术的不断发展，使得骨微结构的无损三维（3D）可视化成为可能。本研究的主要目的是使用基于同步辐射的高分辨率显微计算机断层扫描（SR显微CT）对成人人类皮质骨中的骨单位带进行可视化和记录。
在加拿大光源（CLS）国家同步加速器设施进行基于同步辐射的显微CT扫描。对三名成年男性的人类骨骼样本进行了骨单位带的可视化观察，这些样本来自骨骼的所有区域（n = 129）。如果存在骨单位带，则对其进行描述和量化。
结果表明，129个成人人类皮质骨标本中有23个显示出骨单位带，占样本的18%。在以下骨骼部位观察到初级和/或次级骨单位的线性排列：颞骨、顶骨、额骨、枕骨、锁骨、下颌骨、股骨、胫骨、尺骨、第二跖骨和骶骨。
本研究首次对成人人类皮质骨中骨单位带的元素间差异进行了三维检查。研究结果表明，单个标本中存在多条骨单位带并不能诊断为非人类骨骼。因此，在法医和考古背景下，绝对不应将骨单位带作为非人类骨骼的证据。
