Radiological investigation correlating mineral content of the peripheral and central skeleton

Estimations of mineral content of normal human skeletons using three radiological methods have led to the following conclusions: 1. Bone density of vertebral bodies increases from T.6 to L.5. Average values for thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are 0.71 and 0.88 g./cm2. 2. There is no linear correlation between the mineral content of an easily accessible peripheral bone and of the vertebrae. 3. The method for bone mineral estimation, using thulium170, which was developed in Dresden, can be used for the peripheral and central skeleton. 4. 125-photon absorption is useful for measurements on the peripheral skeleton, where it is the most elegant and accurate method. It is, however, useless for measurements of the central skeleton. (orig.)