Three ultrasound parameters-broad band ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) through the heel and average of standardized BUA and SOS (stiffness)-were measured with a LUNAR Achilles system (Lunar Corporation, Madison, WI, USA) in 9459 normal Japanese women (mean±SD 54.7±11.3yr, 15-90 yr) who have no history of ovariectomy, and 260 men (58.1±16.5 yr, 15-86 yr).
The bone mass values peaked in women aged 15-17 years (BUA 116±9, SOS 1572±23 and stiffness 97±11), and in men aged 15-16 (SOS 1590±20, stiffness 107±11) and in the age span 22-29 years (BUA 124±14).
The rates of bone loss were high in women aged 51-55 (stiffness 1.0%/yr), significantly high in the women who had been menopausal for less than 5 years (stiffness 2.0% yr).
We compared the mean values of the parameters in women with early menopause (≤45 yr) and late menopause (≥53 yr) more than 5 years after the menopause. In the early menopausal women, the mean BUA values at age 58-62, and those of BUA, SOS and stiffness at age 63-67 were significantly low (P<0.02) compared with the age-matched values in the late menopausal women, whereas no significant difference was observed between those in either of the two groups after 68 years of age.
There were significantly positive correlations between the 3 ultrasound parameters and height, body weight and obesity index, but SOS was not significantly correlated with body mass index.
These results indicate that the maximal bone mass in the os calcis is attained in very young women aged 17 or less and that loss in the calcaneus bone quality appears to be more dependent on menopause than aging in women 58-67 years old. In the older women, however, the loss of bone seems to be age-related.

The projection region of the dome of the pleura to the surface of the anterior neck was investigated in 31 domes of 17 cadavers. The point “Tentotsu”, and a line connecting that point and the most lateral edge of the acromion were adopted for a basis of measurement of the projection region. The mean length of the Tentotsu-Acromion line was 185mm on either side of the body. Its upward angle to the horizontal plane was 22° and 23° in average on the right and left sides, respectively, while its backward angle to the frontal plane was 23° on the right and 25° on the left. The right pleural domes (17 cases) were included within a range 0-58mm lateral to the Tentotsu and lower than 44mm above, and on the left side (14 cases), these values were 5-58mm and 49mm, respectively. On the other hand, when adopting the Tentotsu-Acromion line as the basis, the pleural domes were located within the medial one-third of the line. Their summits lay on the point of its medial one-fourth in medio-lateral direction, and were situated at levels lower than about 35 (on the right) or 32mm (on the left) above the line.

Twenty-six domes of the pleura of thirteen cadavers were investigated. The summits of all domes protruded above the clavicle. Mediolateral positions of the summits were located between the lateral edge of the origin of the sternal head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (CL3) and the lateral edge of the origin of its clavicular head (CL5), and their craniocaudal positions were located between the Point “Suitotsu” (S₁₀) and the medial edge of the origin of the clavicular head (CL4). The lateral edges of the domes did not reach the level of the clavicle. Their mediolateral positions were located between CL4 and the Point “Ketsubon” (S₁₂), and their craniocaudal positions were located between CL5 and the sternal extremity of the clavicle (CL2). The medial edges of the domes were both mediolaterally and craniocaudally located between CL2 and the suprasternal point. Projection regions of the domes of the pleura to the surface of the anterior neck were included, in all cases, within the quadrate region connecting the following four points: the Point “Suitotsu” (S₁₀), a point of intersection between the median line and a line drawn vertically from the Point “Suitotsu” (S₁₀) toward the median line, the suprasternal point, and a point on the clavicle corresponding to the medial one-third of the half shoulder width.