Bone is a complex biological material that consists of both an inorganic and organic phase, which undergoes continuous dynamic biological processes within the body. This complex structure and the need to acquire accurate data have resulted in a wide variety of methods applied in the physical analysis of bone in vivo and in vitro. Each method has its own strengths and applications depending on the information sought by the clinician or researcher. The Physical Measurement of Bone provides a detailed description of all the major methods of bone analysis, including brief comments on clinical evaluation. The physics of each method are introduced as well as a summary of practical procedures. The book is essential reading for practicing medical physicists and technicians who need to know about the many methods of bone analysis open to them, and, more importantly, the wide coverage provides a good introductory framework for students of medical physics and biomedical engineering.

INTRODUCTION Preface Anatomy, Physiology and Disease Biological Safety Considerations Radiation Safety Considerations Instrument Evaluation INVASIVE TECHNIQUES Mechanical Testing Histomorphometry Microscopy IONIZING RADIATION TECHNIQUES Photon Absorptiometry Quantitative Computed Tomography pQCT and mCT Radiogrammetry Magnetic Resonance Imaging NONIONIZING TECHNIQUES Quantitative Ultrasound Finite Element Modeling Vibration Analysis Neutron Activation Human Studies Animal Studies