In: Anatomy and Physiology
a. Bone histomorphometry is a technique for the quantitative evaluation of bone tissue, which in clinical studies is usually obtained from the ilium. Both the activity of bone cells and the amount and distribution of bone tissue can be analyzed.Bone histomorphometry is an important tool for assessing the safety and efficacy of new pharmacological treatment approaches. It provides information that is not currently available from other investigative approaches, for example, bone densitometry and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Bone histomorphometry also enables a more precise characterization of disease states and their response to treatment than can be obtained from qualitative examination of bone histology.
b.
Materials and Equipment
Bone sections, histology,Light microscope
c.
first a bone biopsy is done .The iliac crest is the preferred site for bone biopsy and the ideal biopsy should contain inner and outer cortical plates with intervening cancellous bone. The biopsy is performed as an outpatient minor surgery and it is safe and generally well tolerated.After the specimen is obtained, a specialized laboratory prepares undecalcified bone specimens and performs histomorphometric analysis. ThenThe sections are analyzed morphometrically, according to standard stereologic principles, using computer-aided planimetry. The image analysis system consists of a digitizing tablet, a high resolution digital color video camera mounted on a microscope with UV capability, digital drawing tablet and a computer equipped with a customized image analysis software program.
d.
Depending on the findings in the microscope it is useful to find out these problems-
Renal osteodystrophy,Osteomalacia,Osteoporosis,Paget disease,Assessing effects of therapy,Identification of some disorders of the hematopoietic system,Aluminum toxicity,Presence of iron in the bone. (sorry couldnt find any pictures )