Three-dimensional microarchitecture of entheseal changes: preliminary study of human radial tuberosity

摘要

Entheseal changes (EC), alterations at insertion sites on the bones, may be related TRACTto mechanical stress among other causes, and are thus used for decades to reconstruct the activitiesof human past populations. They can be characterised by focal changes in robusticity andvariable pattern of osteolysis and osteoformation observable on dry bone. This preliminary studyaims to analyse the microstructural characteristics of the underlying bone to clarify the natureof the changes in bone microarchitecture reflecting the macroscopic changes identifiable onthe surface of the enthesis. We studied the right radii of two Saharian adult individuals, datingfrom Neolithic (Hassi-el-Abiod, Mali, 7 000 years BP). One has a morphologically normal bicipitaltuberosity while the second one shows EC. Micro-computed tomodensitometric acquisitions and3D reconstructions were performed to characterise cancellous and cortical bone microarchitectureof these two entheses. 3D imaging appears relevant for studying microstructure of ECamong past populations. Our methodology reveals at this preliminary step clear differences ofcanal network organisation of cortical bone between the two studied entheses. This work comespreliminary to a broader study on a historically and archaeologically documented populationof Hungarian horse archers of the Honfoglalás or Conquest period (Xth century).