Abstract: A method for judging deformation of a vertebral body includes the steps of measuring a central length (a), rear brim length (c), and front brim length (d) from a profile X-ray image of a vertebral body to be judged, determining ratios of c/d, a/c and a/d, and classifying deformation of the vertebral body to be judged by using indices, c, d, c/d, a/c and a/d. Furthermore, a method for judging deformation of a vertebral body, which comprises obtaining at least two indices by measuring a central length (a), vertebral body width (b), rear brim length (c), and front brim length (d) from a profile X-ray image of a vertebral body, analyzing these indices by a discriminant function, and classifying a deformation of the vertebral body from results of the analysis.

Abstract: A method for bone histomorphometry by using a non-decalcified bone specimen, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining two pictures A and B by recording different chromatic light transmitted through a same region of said non-decalcified bone specimen or by recording different chromatic fluorescence from the region of said non-decalcified bone specimen; (b) detecting the strength (brightness) L.sub.An and L.sub.Bn of the corresponding image elements (pixels) An and Bn of said two pictures A and B; (c) determining the ratio L.sub.An /L.sub.Bn ; (d) performing the steps (b) and (c) on all corresponding image elements of said two pictures A and B; and (e) with regard to the ratio L.sub.An /L.sub.Bn, calculating and expressing areas of three components of bone, said three components of bone being a calcified bone area, an osteoid area, and a bone marrow area, in said non-decalcified bone specimen.

Abstract: A method for evaluating cancellous bone from a density pattern of the cancellous bone obtained by irradiating the cancellous bone with a radiation wherein trabeculae of the cancellous bone are analyzed based on a power spectrum obtained by a Fourier transformation of the density pattern is provided.Furthermore, a method for evaluating cancellous bone from the density pattern of the cancellous bone obtained by irradiating the cancellous bone with radiation, wherein the density pattern is determined by irradiating the radiation substantially vertically against the main trabecula of the cancellous bone and the degree of the bone atrophy of the cancellous bone is evaluated by using the area (.SIGMA.GS) of the density pattern and/or the value (.SIGMA.GS/D) obtained by dividing the area (.SIGMA.GS) by the bone width (D) of the cancellous bone.

Abstract: A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph from the long bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorptiometry from the long bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern to modify the same; (c) determining at least one index selected from the group consisting of an index of the bone cortical width (MCI), a bone width (D), a maximum bone density (GSmax), a minimum bone density (GSmin), a bone mineral content (.SIGMA.GS), and an average bone density (.SIGMA.GS/D or .SIGMA.GS/D.sup.2); and (d) evaluating the bone based on the at least one index. The bone evaluation also can be carried out by determining a bone density distribution, from the modified bone pattern obtained above, by setting a bone model having an elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape, a zonate bone cortex, and a bone density decreasing portion in the inside of the bone cortex.