Elastic properties and microstucture of external cortical bone in the craniofacial skeleton of the baboon

Abstract

Bone diseases have imposed tremendous clinical needs in bone health maintenance and reconstructive surgery. It has been realized that successful bone regeneration must go beyond reproducing shape and structure to restore biological and mechanical function as well as long‐term integration with surrounding native tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that bone material properties and microstructure vary throughout the skulls. However, how the bone microstructure is related to the mechanical properties of bone at the tissue level needs systematic investigation. Samples from the outer cortical table in the neurocranium, supraorbital torus, zygomatic arch, and face of a baboon skull were assessed using ultrasonic and micro‐CT analyses. Results demonstrated that there were significant variations in bone elasticity and morphology of osteonal canals in different areas, and the principal orientation of osteonal canals roughly agreed with the axis of maximum stiffness and further with the long axis of the bone at some sites. These findings and further studies on the microstructural basis of bone mechanical quality at tissue level and skeletal function at the organ level will greatly enhance our ability to address questions derived from both evolutional and craniofacial medicine fields about the development and biomechanics of skulls. Supported by MEDCEN and Mercer Seed.