Human Osteoid Seams

Abstract

Osteoid seams in human lamellar bone have been studied using fresh, undecalcified, hydrated, unembedded bone sections, fuchsin stains and tetracycline bone labeling. Seams normally are found at all ages, are about 10 μ thick, are observed rarely as an accompaniment to circumferential lamellar formation but are observed routinely in association with haversian, endosteal and trabecular lamellar bone formation. Their numbers per unit volume of bone may be measured; an approximate normal adult value is 0.2/mm³. There are characteristic variations in number with age. Metachromasia seems to be an unreliable way of demonstrating lamellar osteoid. A certain physiologic “challenge” may convert an active seam to a resting state, and unusually large numbers of seams may accumulate in the resting state.