On the mechanical structure of the cancellous tissue of bone / by W.W. Wagstaffe.

  • Wagstaffe, W. W. (William Warwick), 1843-1910.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the mechanical structure of the cancellous tissue of bone / by W.W. Wagstaffe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    bringing the subject before English anatomists, I have thought it advisable to publish them. Spine.—-If a vertical section be made through the body of a vertebra from before backwards it will be seen that the bony fibres of the cancellous tissue are arranged in two directions, vertically and horizontally. In the accompanying diagram (Fig. 1) the vertical fibres are shown not to be rectilinear but curved, and to have their concavity directed towards the centre of the bone. They therefore do not correspond with the outline of the surface which has its concavity looking in the opposite direction. Langerhaus depicts them as perfectly vertical lines, but this is certainly incorrect, and the advantage gained by curved lines is Fig. l. Vertical median section of the body of a last dorsal vertebra. Fig. 2. Showing an arrangement in pedicle and body of dorsal vertebra. obvious in securing elasticity with equal strength. This accords curiously with an observation of Mr. Ward’s that it has been found that wheels whose spokes are slightly curved possess far greater durability and power of resistance than those with straight spokes. The horizontal fibres are slightly curved parallel with the upper and lower surfaces, and therefore Avith their convexities towards the interior of the bone. They are best marked towards the surface, and are not so well defined as the vertical set, and in the diagram are rather too clearly indicated in the centre. If a vertical section be made through body and lamina (Fig. 2) it will be seen that a number of curves spring from the lower edge of the lamina and radiate into the body, and