[Anthropometric, densitometric and histometric investigations into the development of the femoral bone in human foetuses].

Introduction: The purpose of this study was the estimation of foetal femoral bone development, based on anthropometric, densitometric and histometric examination.

Material and methods: The study was done on 68 foetuses (31 female and 37 male) of various foetal ages (16-31 weeks of gestation). The specimens, ranging 16-31 weeks of gestation, were divided into 3 groups for better statistical analysis. After the left and right limb were removed from specimens each femoral bone was radiographed using a Microfocus 401 bone X-ray apparatus. Radiographs were digitized with an analogue camera and an A/D converter for transfer to a computer. Four measurements were taken for each bone: the total length of the shaft; the breadth of the proximal epiphysis; the breadth of the central part of the shaft; and the breadth of the distal epiphysis. After anthropometric research densitometric research was started within which BMC and BMD measurements were taken by a DPX-L osteodensitometer, Lunar, Wisconsin, USA, for tiny osseous structures. Mean values for results were calculated, and their correlation with the age and sex of the examined foetuses was described. The bones examined were cleared of soft tissues, and afterwards histological specimens were taken from the proximal epiphysis, the central part of the shaft, and the distal epiphysis for histometric study. The obtained histological images were saved on the computer, and processed using a special image analyser. During the experiment the surface area and circumference oftrabeculae of bone were calculated. The obtained values were used for estimating histometric indicators that describe the osseous structure of the proximal epiphysis, the central part of the shaft, and the distal epiphysis.

Results: Results of this research from certain parts of the femoral bone were described for the right and left limbs in correlation with the foetuses' age and sex. It has been stated that arbitrary diameters of foetal femoral bone are strongly and positively correlated with the total length of the femoral bone, CRL and the age of the examined foetuses. Anthropometric analysis of foetal femoral bones in the early stage of development do not indicate lateralization features. The mineral content of femoral bones (BMC) indicates a characteristic, positive correlation with foetal age, but the mineral density of foetal femoral bones (BMD) does not correlate with its development. The density of the femoral bone in human foetuses increases with age in all bone's parts and histometric parameters of foetal femoral bones show variability in terms of sex at an early stage of intrauterine development. Based on the given anthropometric densitometric and histometric data the occurrence of foetal dimorphism features has been analyzed in randomly chosen foetal groups. The cluster analysis and analysis of many other parameters of developing femoral bone revealed features of sexual dimorphism in selected groups of human foetuses.