Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the body segment density from one MRI image for each body segment by
continuously acquiring cross-sectional images of Japanese male and female athletes using MRI. First, a preliminary analysis was conducted for six male and female athletes to determine the range of appropriate cross section selection for estimating the body segment density. Next, we used 21 other male and female athletes as subjects and estimated the body segment density from one MRI image for each body segment. As a result of the preliminary analysis, it was suggested that analysis of one MRI image for each body segment gave the similar value of body segment density as in analyzing many successive MRI images. Moreover, the sex difference in body segment densities between the
male and female athletes and the difference in body segment densities between the athletes and the cadaver specimens (Caucasian middleaged or aged males) were clarified.
