Polished Bone Research Articles

On the pathogenesis of spondylosis deformans and arthrosis uncovertebralis: comparative form-analytical radiological and statistical studies on lumbar and cervical vertebral bodies.

To investigate the etiopathogenesis of the common clinical symptoms of the lower lumbar spine (LS) and cervical spine (CS) (lower back pain and local cervical spine syndrome), the dimensions of the third to fifth lumbar vertebral bodies (LVB) and the fifth to seventh cervical vertebral bodies (CVB) were studied quantitatively and morphometrically in frontal and sagittal planes, as a function of sex and age, in 105 human cadavers of both sexes aged between 16 and 91 years. The evaluation was done in X-ray pictures of 100-micron-thick polished bone sections with the aid of the Macro Facility of the Leitz Texture Analysis System. In each case, the maximum and minimum heights and widths and depths and the computed differences in heights, widths, and depths were determined. The results were evaluated statistically and compared within and between the two regions of the spine, using regression-correlation analyses. The heights, widths, and depths of the VB are all greater in men than in women; their behavior during ageing is, however, identical for both sexes. The heights of all the VB examined remain constant throughout life after termination of growth. The maximum widths and the width differences reveal an increase in both LVB and CVB in old age. All depth parameters reveal constancy in the case of the LVB but an increase in the case of the CVB in old age. The correlation coefficients of the maximum width of the VB within the spinal regions are very high in the LVB, but lower in the CVB. Between the two regions, in contrast, they are very low. This behavior suggests a superordinate action principle within each of the spinal regions which is based on characteristic anatomical construction and functional stressing. The static stressing of the LVB leads, laterally to disc protrusions. As a result of this, traction forces acting on the weak lateral elements of the anterior longitudinal ligament, stimulate the accretion of spondylotic osteophytes at the point of insertion of the ligament on the vertebral body. Anteriorly, in contrast, the particular strong anterior longitudinal ligament prevents such a remodelling process. Posteriorly, the longitudinal ligament is attached to the intervertebral discs, and can thus not stimulate the vertebral body to produce osteophytes. The dynamic stressing of the CVB leads laterally to friction between the VB in the region of the uncovertebral joints and to the formation of arthrotic osteophytes. Anteriorly, owing to the weak configuration of the anterior longitudinal ligament in this aspect, disc protrusion occur and, subsequently, spondylotic osteophytes accrete.

Preliminary investigation of fat embolization from pulsed ruby laser impacts of bone.

DURING an investigation with lasers we carried out impacts of the calvarium and rib fragments1 and, later, laser drillings of sections of polished bone and femurs of the dog were performed (personal communication from R. O. Becker). Q switched ruby laser transmission through bone slices has also been studied3.

Discovery of Neolithic Polished Bone Axe-Heads in Africa

AN early occupation site at Esh Shaheinab on the west bank of the Nile about thirty miles north of Omdurman was excavated under the auspices of the Sudan Government Antiquities Service in January and February 1949. Polished stone axe-heads, gouges, chisels and planes, small disk beads of amazon-stone, and serrated bivalve shells show that the culture was closely connected with that of the Fayum Neolithic a thousand miles to the north. The type of settlement was also similar, with numerous hearths but no other trace of houses, and no burials in the settlement.

The secondary deposits at Ku-hsiang-tung, Manchuria

The Ku-hsiang-tung deposits, located in the outskirts of the city of Harbin, have been the scene of excavations by Dr. S. TOKUNAOA and N. NAORA since about 1933. They succeeded in unearthing a variety of coarse Paleolith-like chipped stone implements and polished bone implements besides a quantity of fossilized animal bones.Since then, A. S. LOUKASHKIN and V. V. PoNOSOV have broached the opinion that these deposits had been washed in from some different locality.In 1938, a research party, headed by Dr. R. ENDO of the Institute of Scientific Reserch of Manchoukuo, and a few others, was organized to carry on a further excavation of the deposits. According to their finds, grounded on various newly discovered facts, it has been proven definitely that the deposit is of a secondary nature. It was also found that the Ku-hsiang-tung deposits are of a different character than the Wen-chuan-he deposits that develop along the Wen-chuan-he river. Another important discovery was that it was from the Ku-hsiang-tung deposits, washed by rivers, that the deposits of the Wen-chuan-he had been formed.However the primary deposits from which the Ku-hsiang-tung deposits had originated has not, as yet, been discovered.

Polish Bone Caves

Polish Bone Caves