Abstract: The paper considers the application of statistical properties of backscattered ultrasonic signal for assessment of the trabecular bone status. Computer simulations were conducted to investigate the properties of the ultrasound pulse-echo signal, as it is received on the transducer surface after scattering in trabecular bone. Results indicated that while for the well-defined trabeculae properties within the simulated bone structure the signal envelope values are Rayleigh distributed the significant departures from Rayleigh statistics may be expected as the thickness of trabeculae become random. The influence of the altering of mechanical properties of the bone tissue building the trabeculae on the signal statistical parameters was unnoticeable. The initial experiments confirming some cases of departure from Rayleigh statistics for envelopes of backscattered signals are also discussed.