Abstract
The characteristics of micro-structures and mechanical properties of femur of WKY (aged 20 weeks old) and SHRSP rats (aged 20 weeks old) were investigated by using a scanning acoustic microscope (SAM). Elastic modulus and density of them were analyzed via distributions of leaky surface wave velocity and acoustic impedance of microscopic area of bone tissue measured by SAM. A second moment of inertia and area ratio of trabecula structure were evaluated using C-mode measurement by SAM and an image processing. As a result, mechanical properties of cortical bone and trabecula of SHRSP were nearly equal to those of WKY. Area ratio of trabecula of neck of femur of SHRSP was lower than that of WKY.
