Abstract
The grade and distribution of mineralization in the postmortal human vertebral body were examined with the technique of quantitative microradiography. The grade of mineralization was indicated by the value of absorption of x-ray through a tested bone, and the trabecular density was shown by the number and width of the trabeculae on the microradiograms. Correlations between the grade of miner-alization or trabecular density and ages or pathological conditions were statisti-cally studied.
The grade of mineralization in respective parts of the vertebral body was apt to show almost the same pattern in each case. The trabecular density reached the maximum value in the third decade of life, and thereafter it was lowered by aging, particularly after the fifth decade.
The present study has also revealed that the vertebral body in cases of lung cancer and renal insufficiency has high grade of mineralization, whereas that in liver cirrhosis is lower than normal.
