Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2017, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. IV, No. 1s   ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Bone, Histomorphometry, 

Densitometry, Microarchitecture, 

Pig 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Maria Elena Andreis 

mariaelena.andreis@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Swine cortical and cancellous bone: 

histomorphometric and densitometric 

characterisation 

Maria E. Andreis1*, Marco Cummaudo2, Umberto Polito1,  

Alberto M. Luciano1, Cristina Cattaneo2, Mauro Di Giancamillo3,  

Alessia Di Giancamillo1, Silvia C. Modina1 

 

1University of Milan, Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Italy  

2University of Milan, Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Italy 

3University of Milan, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Italy  

 

 

 Abstract 

Swine bone morphology, composition and remodelling are similar to humans’, therefore they are 

considered good models in bone-related research (Wancket et al., 2015; Rubessa et al., 2017). They 

have been used for several studies involving bone growth, bone and cartilage fractures and femoral 

head osteonecrosis. Nevertheless, the literature about pig normal bone features is incomplete (Teo et 

al., 2005). This work aims to fill the literature gaps on the microarchitecture and Bone Mineral Density 

(BMD) of swine femoral diaphysis and distal epiphysis and tibial plateau and diaphysis.  

Five hind limbs were collected from slaughtered 80-100 kg pigs. Microscopic analysis of cortical and 

cancellous bone from middle/distal femur and proximal/middle tibia was performed to determine 

basic histomorphometric parameters at different sites. Dual-energy X-Rays Absorptiometry was also 

employed to evaluate BMD. ANOVA and correlation between BMD, bone area (BA) and cortical 

thickness were performed.  

Diaphyseal cortical bone was mostly plexiform both in the tibia and the femur; primary/secondary 

osteons without clear organization were also found. Mean values for bone area, bone perimeter, 

trabecular width, number and separation and BMD at different anatomical sites were defined. No 

significant difference was found for these values at different anatomical sites. BMD proved to be 

positively correlated with cortical thickness (r=0,80; p<0,01). Despite the small sample size, these 

results seem homogeneous. They could therefore represent reference values for normal bone 

parameters in pigs. Applied anatomy and regenerative medicine, in fact, demand very precise 

information about bone micromorphology, composition and density to provide reliable indication in 

bone substitutes building. Moreover, since the interpretation of bone abnormalities grounds on 

mastering normal bone characteristics, the definition of reference parameters is mandatory to avoid 

misinterpretation and allow comparative evaluation. 

The results of this study, although preliminary, may be considered a dependable starting point for the 

definition of normal bone features in pigs. 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en


Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2017, 6th- 8th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. IV, No. 1s   ISSN: 2283-3927 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

Rubessa M., Polkoff K., Bionaz M., Monaco E., Milner D.J., Hollister S.J., Goldwasser M.S., Wheeler M.B., 2017. Use of 
pig as model for mesenchymal stem cell therapies for bone regeneration. Animal Biotechnology Mar (7),1-13. 

Teo, J.C.M., Shi-Hoe, K.M., Keh, J.E.L., Teoh, S.H., 2005. Relationship between CT intensity, micro-architecture and 
mechanical properties of porcine vertebral cancellous bone. Clinical Biomechanics 21, 235-244. 

Wancket L.M., 2015. Animal models for evaluation of bone implants and devices: comparative bone structure and 
common model uses. Veterinary Pathology 52(5), 842-850. 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en