Cartesian Coordinates in Two-Dimensional Bone Histology Images for Quaternary Bone Remodelling Research

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6095652
AutoresJ J Miszkiewicz (0000-0002-9769-2706, Australian National University, autor de correspondencia), Julien Louys (0000-0001-7539-0689, Griffith University), P Mahoney (0000-0002-2715-3096, University of Kent)
Año2022
Volumen8
Páginas12
Fecha de publicación2022-09-07
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaOpen Quaternary (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2055-298X • E-ISSN: 2055-298X
EditorialUbiquity Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.5334/oq.117
OpenAlexW4297832103
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas51

Palaeohistologists who work with well-preserved cortical bone can examine two-dimensional (2D) histology images for quantitative parameters of secondary osteons and Haversian canals to reconstruct past bone remodelling. Standard techniques in this space include area measurements and counts of histology components recorded from an image. The ‘point-count’ technique involves counting all the items (e.g., secondary osteons, osteocyte lacunae) of interest per image area. The open access image analysis software ImageJ/FIJI facilitates this technique in a user-friendly way. Raw data points are captured and can be saved in a spreadsheet. Aside from the total number of counts, the software also issues Cartesian (XY) coordinates locating each counted point. These XY coordinates are typically neglected within palaeohistological approaches due their assumed irrelevance to research questions of bone remodelling significance. We provide a short evaluation of XY coordinates captured by ImageJ/FIJI from 2D bone histology images, and a protocol for a simple calculation of XY distances that follow the path of point counting. We focus on osteocyte lacunae which serve as a proxy for osteoblast-osteocyte conversion in live bone by replicating the protocol on a bone sample from a human Medieval English individual. We discuss the potential of XY coordinates for reconstructing the proximity of osteocyte lacunae and related bone remodelling activity through exchange of nutrients by neighbouring cells. We recommend palaeohistologists report XY coordinate data in their results to ensure better vertebrate palaeobiology characterisation

Biology · Cartesian coordinate system · Geometry · Osteoblast · Osteocyte · Pathology · Computer Science · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Mathematics · Medicine · Morphological variations and asymmetry · Anatomy · Artificial Intelligence · Histology