Location, number and clinical significance of nutrient foramina in human long bones.

Nutrient arteries, the main blood supply to long bones, are particularly important during the active growth period, as well as during the early phases of ossification. In the present study, 569 adult human long bones of the upper (101 humeri, 93 radii, 102 ulnae) and lower (100 femora, 100 tibiae, 73 fibulae) limbs were investigated to determine the number and location of their nutrient foramina. For each bone, a foraminal index was calculated giving the location of the nutrient foramen in relation to its proximal end. In the upper limb, foramina were located on the diaphysis 15-69% of the overall length of the humerus, 22-46% for the radius and 27-54% for the ulna. In the lower limb, foramina were located on the diaphysis 29-69% of the overall length of the femur, 27-63% for the tibia and 26-83% for the fibula. In addition, the number and the distribution of the foramina in relation to specific regions/surfaces of the diaphysis were identified. This study provides additional and important information on the location and number of nutrient foramina in the long bones of the upper and lower limbs in the Turkish Caucasian population.

Stature estimation based on hand length and foot length.

This study was carried out to estimate the relationship between hand length, foot length and stature using multiple linear regression analyses based on a sample of male and female adult Turks residing in Adana. Measurements of hand length, foot length and stature were taken from 155 adult Turks (80 male, 75 female) aged 17-23 years. The participants were students of the Medical Faculty of Cukurova University. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to the observed data. Stature was taken as the response or dependent variable, hand length and foot length were taken as explanatory variables or regressors. All possible (simple and multiple) linear regression models for each of males, females and both genders together were tested for the best model. The multiple linear regression model for both genders together was found to be the best model with the highest values for the coefficients of determination R2 = 0.861 and R2adjusted = 0.859, and multiple correlation coefficient R = 0.928.