Physeal form of the longbones of the foal.
Abstract: The possible relationship between physeal diseases and physeal form prompted investigation of change in steepness of the physis in young foals. The distal and proximal aspects of the longbones were sawn sagittally in the right and frontally in the left bones. The slabs were washed to remove saw debris, arranged in order and inspected. The proximal physes had a flat or gently arched form, without obvious inclination. In the distal physes there were distinct inclinations. Inspection of an identical slab from the medial aspect of the distal radius of two series of foals of different breeds showed that the degree of inclination of the physis with respect to the long axis of the bone increased with age. In a further series of foals, the angle of inclination was measured from radiographs of identical sagittal and frontal slabs of the distal radius. A line drawn through the secondary spongiosa was produced to intersect a line drawn along the physis where it was mostly steeply inclined, and the angle measured. The angle decreased (physeal inclination increased) with increasing age, up to 35-90 days. The steepness in the lateral aspect of the physis was similar to that in the medial aspect, although evident in a different plane.
Publication Date: 1997-05-01 PubMed ID: 9300537DOI: 10.1016/s0034-5288(97)90193-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers investigated the changes in the steepness of the growth plate (physis) in young horses (foals) in relation to certain bone diseases. The growth plates in the upper part of longbones showed a flat or gently curved form, while those in the lower part showed distinct angles that varied with age.
Investigation of Physeal Form
- In order to understand the potential relationship between growth plate (physeal) diseases and the shape (form) of the growth plate, this research focused on analyzing changes in the steepness of the growth plate in young horses (foals).
- The researchers sawed the ends of longbones (both distal and proximal) of the foals in different directions. After washing off the saw debris, the bone pieces were arranged in order and examined.
Findings on Physeal Form
- The upper (proximal) growth plates displayed a flat or slightly arched shape, without noticeable inclination. This means that the upper growth plates of the foals’ longbones did not display any major directional bias or tilt.
- On the contrary, the lower (distal) growth plates exhibited distinct inclinations. These inclinations are angles at which the growth plate of the bone leans or tilts. These findings suggested that these lower growth plates may lean in a particular direction, potentially indicating a specific pattern of growth.
Comparison Across Breeds and Ages
- The researchers further compared slabs taken from the same region of the lower arm bone (distal radius) from two series of foals of different breeds. They found that as the foals aged, the angle of inclination of the growth plate relative to the long axis of the bone increased.
- In another series of foals, they took X-rays of similar cuts of the lower arm bone and measured the angle of inclination. They found that this angle decreased (which means the steepness of the growth plate actually increased) with age, up to 35-90 days.
- They also observed that the steepness of the lateral (side) portion of the growth plate was similar to that on the medial (middle) aspect, just visible in a different plane.
Significance of the Study
- The findings from this research provide valuable insight into the growth patterns of longbones in young horses, as well as the changes that occur with age.
- These observations are not just significant for understanding normal bone development but could also have potential implications for the diagnosis or understanding of growth plate diseases in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Firth EC, Hodge H.
(1997).
Physeal form of the longbones of the foal.
Res Vet Sci, 62(3), 217-221.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0034-5288(97)90193-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / pathology
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / anatomy & histology
- Bone Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Bone Diseases / pathology
- Bone Diseases / veterinary
- Epiphyses / anatomy & histology
- Epiphyses / diagnostic imaging
- Femur / anatomy & histology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Humerus / anatomy & histology
- Metacarpus / anatomy & histology
- Metatarsal Bones / anatomy & histology
- Radiography
- Radius / anatomy & histology
- Radius / diagnostic imaging
- Tibia / anatomy & histology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Stamos PA, Berthaume MA. The effects of femoral metaphyseal morphology on growth plate biomechanics in juvenile chimpanzees and humans. Interface Focus 2021 Oct 6;11(5):20200092.
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