Alt ekstremite uzun kemiklerinde foramen nutricium'larin morfolojik ve topografik anatomisi

Nutrient foramina are important anatomical characteristics of long bones and help in determining the entry site of nutrient arteries and the weak areas that susceptible to fractures and hence study of the nutrient foramen is important in medical field. This study aimed to determine the number and positions of nutrient foramina of femur, tibia and fibula and to observe their sizes, direction and obliquity. Two hundred sixty five adult human bones of the lower limbs were observed. Nutrient foramina were identified with naked eyes and their direction, obliquity and size were determined by 20 and 24 gauge needles. Shapes were observed with naked eye and allotted to oval and round types. The location of the nutrient foramina were determined in relation to upper, middle and lower third segment of the bones and was validated by calculating foraminal index. Our study found 79% of specimens with a single nutrient foramen. More than 96% of the nutrient foramina were directed away from the knee. Eighty seven percent of the femoral nutrient foramina were located in the middle third, 72% of tibial nutrient foramina were located in the proximal third while 98% of the fibular nutrient foramina were located in the middle third of the specimens. Overall, no nutrient foramen was found to be present on the distal third of the bones studied. Our study findings are in accordance to the findings from several research studies. The assessment of pathological conditions associated with the findings of foramen nutricium in our study may help clinicians and surgeons in planning treatments for applications to be performed in this region. However, it is thought that literature will be a source for basic and clinical sciences by providing reference values.