Observations of microdamage around osteocyte lacunae in bone

Tensile microdamage was examined using laser scanning confocal microscopy i n beam specimens of bovine, equine and human long bones loaded in vitro and whole specimens of rat ulnae loaded in vivo. Microcracks were observed to initiate frequently at osteocyte lacunae. The implication is that osteocyte lacunae act as stress concentrating features in bone. This association pro vides a potential mechanism for the detection of strain and/or damage by os teocytes in bone. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.