pheral site may not accurately reflect bone mass at other points of the skeleton, or of the skeleton as a whole (Johnston, 1987). Both
radiogrammetry and photon absorptiometry primarily measure cor tical bone, and, thus, an absence of the detection of signifi cant bone loss using these procedures would not necessarily indicate that a significant loss of the trabecular bone of the spine had not occurred. On the other hand, the detection of significant bone loss through radiogrammetry and photon absorp tiometry would indicate that a more general bone loss had occurred.
Morphometric measurements can be made on all peripheral tubular bones (Johnston, 1987). Most often, however, such measurements are made on the metacarpal bones (Johnston, 1987). Radiogrammetry involves the use of x ray tube film, and needle tipped Vernier calipers (Johnston, 1987). The procedure per mits the determination of the cortical area/total area ratio, and the calculation of the percent of cortic
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