Analysis of bone by micro-CT General information

Micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT, is being employed by a rapidly increasing number of laboratories for osteoporosis and other bone research, while the technology is still in its first decade. Bone biologists (and other biologists also) are a significant group of micro-CT users. This article is intended to give users without an extensive background of physics a better understanding of the methodology with its capabilities and limitations. The background of micro-CT bone analysis will be outlined, along with a superficial look at physical principles underlying the technique. There is a brief examination of the methodology of two important types of micro-CT analysis morphometric and density measurement. Finally there will be a review of some selected applications of micro-CT in published bone research, including both ex vivo and in vivo analysis of bone.