Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL MEDICINE, cilt.43, sa.1, ss.26-30, 2026 (Scopus)
Abstract
The nutrient artery passing through the nutrient foramen (NF) plays a vital role in ensuring that the bones receive sufficient blood for growth and development. This study aimed to determine the number and location of the NF of the femur, which is the longest bone in the body. In this study, 70 adult dry femora of unknown age and sex (35 right and 35 left) were examined at the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University. Hypodermic needles of 20- and 24-gauge were used to determine the patency of the foramina. The localization of the foramina was evaluated based on their location in the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the femur. The major NF was identified, and the foraminal index was calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS V.23 software. No statistically significant correlation was found between the foraminal index and femur length (r =-0.052, p =0.682), between the foraminal index and the number of NFs (r =0.007, p =0.959), or between femur length and the number of NFs (r =-0.025, p = 0.835). Regarding side differences, the bone length of the right femora was higher than that of the left side (p=0.026). The findings revealed that 35.71% of the samples had one NF, 37.14% had two NFs, 14.28% had three NFs, and 4.28% had four NFs, while 8.57% had no NF. A total of 33.61% of the NFs were located in the upper third of the femur, 60.50% in the middle third, and 5.88% in the lower third. The mean foraminal index was 41.43 ± 12.85. There were no significant differences between the sides regarding the foraminal index and number of NF (p>0.05). The data obtained can guide clinicians and surgeons in creating treatment strategies to preserve the bone vascular structure in interventions performed in this region. Keywords: nutrient foramina, femur, dry bone, foraminal index