Abstract
This chapter reviews the underlying organization and function of bone cells and identifies a set of basic structural and kinetic histomorphometric variables. Bone biopsy specimens for histomorphometric examination are ordinarily obtained at the transilial site and shipped to specialized laboratories for processing and microscopic analysis. The chapter outlines an approach to interpretation of findings, with examples from a range of metabolic bone diseases. It describes techniques for obtaining, processing, and analyzing transilial biopsy specimens. The chapter discusses clinical situations in which bone histomorphometry can be useful, and relates histomorphometric measures to data from other methods for assessing bone properties and bone physiology.