The spatial structure of human mandibular bone has been studied using microradiography, scanning electron microscopy, and methacrylate replication. Microradiographs have demonstrated lamellar organization and mineralization. Methacrylate replicas have been examined by scanning electron microscopy which revealed the complex structure and inter‐connection of the vascular, lacunar, and canalicular spaces. The spatial replicas, representing the pore volume, have been dispersed ultrasonically and separated by sedimentation in a fluid column. The harvested methacrylate replicas of the three types of space have been weighed and knowing the density of methacrylate (1.18g/ml) their volumes determined by calculation. Pore volume increases with age. The vascular space makes the greatest contribution to this increasing porosity with age. Although lacunar volume increases with age, their numbers may fall. Canalicular volume appears to fall with age. This method has provided more information about the contribution the three different spatial compartments make to the increasing porosity of aging bone. There is no difference in the volume of these compartments in alveolar and basal mandibular bone but their distribution indicates that some of the smaller channels are more readily obstructed in alveolar bon
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