Morphological studies of the upper end of the femur. II. Macroscopic, radiological, histological and histomorphometrical studies.

Fragments of bone from the proximal femur were obtained at autopsy. Macroscopic, radiological and histological studies were then performed on these specimens, and the following observations were made: 1) It was possible to classify the bone marrow into four groups based on the distribution and volume of the red and yellow marrow. 2) The radiological findings were classified into four groups according to the degree of bone loss, as in aging. 3) The histomorphometrical studies of the femoral neck by undecalcified ground section showed a decrease in bone area with aging. In the female, scalloped and osteoid surface increased with age in the medial cancellous bone as did scalloped surface in the lateral. This observation may explain the age-related bone fragility of the femoral neck, especially in the elderly females.