Thickness of the Cortical Layer as an Estimate of Mineral Content of Human Finger Bones

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Abstract
The ratio of the area of the cortical layer of 26 finger bones to the area of the rest of the bone was determined by the use of optical magnification by 5 diameters of the X-ray images of the bones. The area ratio showed a highly significant correlation with the actual mineral content of the bones (r = 0.707, P< 0.001), which was determined by burning the bones at 800[degree]C. Although residual variation limits the usefulness of the area ratio as an index of demineralization, this ratio provides an easy objective means of assessing an aspect of the osteoporosis of the finger bones.