The calcium and nitrogen content of human bone tissue cleaned by micro-dissection

Abstract

Pathologically normal bones and sequestra were dissected free of muscle and connective tissue, and defatted. The compact and cancellous portions of adult femur and cancellous portion of adult rib had a Ca content of 24 to 27% (mean 25.5) and a N range of 4.2 to 5.3% (mean 4.7). There was no statistic difference between the mean figures for the compact and cancellous bone nor between dead (sequestra) and living bone. Infant ribs (cancellous) showed a lower Ca content, 22.3 to 26.2% (mean 24.4) and a higher N content, 5.0 to 5.7% (mean 5.35) than adult ribs. The Ca salt/protein ratio averaged 2.4 for compact bone of femur cortex, 2.3 for cancellous bone of femur, 2.1 for cancellous bone of adult rib, 1.9 for cancellous bone of infant rib, and 2.5 for compact bone of sequestra.