The importance of murine cortical bone microstructure for microcrack initiation and propagation

► Microdamage accumulation was quantified regarding murine cortical bone microstructure. ► Large canals in C3H mice yielded in more microdamage accumulation than in B6 mice. ► Canal volume density and unit volume correlated highly to crack number density. ► Osteocyte lacunae did not initiate but guided propagation of microcracks. ► Cortical bone microstructure is important for bone quality and bone competence.