Massa Óssea Cortical do Fémur numa Coleção Esquelética de Referência Portuguesa

Francisco Curate; Eugénia Cunha

doi:10.14195/2182-7982_34_5

Authors

Francisco Curate Research Centre for Anthropology and Health - University of Coimbra http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0480-209X
Eugénia Cunha Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology – Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology – Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14195/2182-7982_34_5

Keywords:

Radiogrametria, radiogrammetry, absorciometria radiológica de dupla energia, dual x-ray absorptiometry, aposição periosteal, periosteal apposition, absorção endosteal, endosteal resorption, Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados, Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection

Abstract

This study aims to investigate femoral cortical bone fragility and its associations with age (at death), sex, bone mineral density and osteoporotic fractures. Radiogrammetric parameters of the femur and bone mineral density at the proximal femur were assessed in an adult sample (N=98) from the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection (Portugal). Diaphysis total width (DTW), femoral cortical index (FEMCI) and bone mineral density (BMD) are significantly higher in males, while medullary width (MW) is not statistically different between sexes. Cortical bone parameters of the femoral diaphysis are associated with age only in women, whereas BMD decreases with age in both sexes. The evaluation of femoral cortical bone reveals sex-specific trajectories of endosteal bone loss and periosteal apposition, stemming from sexual differences in the rate and pattern of bone loss, and in bone size. In females, endocortical bone loss rises with age, particularly in peri- and postmenopausal years, decelerating later in life. Concomitantly, accretion of bone in the subperiosteal surface persists throughout adulthood – partially offsetting bone fragility in women. Strength in the femoral mid-diaphysis appears to be preserved throughout most of the life course in both sexes.