ABSTRACT
Cortical bone (also known as compact bone) lines the exterior surface of most bones. In cortical bone, the bone tissue is organized into cylindrical structures known as osteons that are composed of concentric lamellae, or plates of bone. Due to its low porosity, cortical bone tends to be stronger and heavier than trabecular bone (also called spongy or cancellous bone). Trabecular bone is found in vertebrae and at the ends of long bones, and is organized into trabecules (struts), which provide trabecular bone with its characteristic porous structure. The higher porosity makes it lighter and somewhat weaker than cortical bone, with a strong correlation between mechanical properties and the degree of porosity (Ethier and Simmons 2007). Consequently, the microarchitecture of bone plays an important role in determining its mechanical properties.
