Osteology of the lower limb (dave's notes)

Question 1

How does the hip bone develop?

Answer 1

Develops in cartilage from three primary centres (one for each bone).

Question 2

When does each of the three centres of development of the hip bone initiate?

Answer 2

Ilium (weight bearing) - 2nd month
Ischium - 3rd month
Pubis - 4th month

Question 3

When do teh ischio and pubic rami fuse?

Answer 3

At about seven years

Question 4

When does the y shaped cartilage of the hip begin to ossify? When does it fuse?

Answer 4

Ossifies at 12 years with 2-3 centres, and closes at about 15 years. At the same time boney centres appear in the peripheral strips of cartilage, fusing at about 25 years.

Question 5

What is the growing end of the femur?

Answer 5

The knee end. These USUALLY ossify earlier

Question 6

When does the femur ossify? From where?

Answer 6

At week 8 from a centre in the shaft. But a centre appears at birth in the lower end; this is the growing end of teh bone.

Question 7

When does the epiphysis bisecting the adductor tubercle unite with the shaft?

Answer 7

At about 20 years

Question 8

When is an ossification centre present in the head of the femur? The greter trochanter? The lesser trochanter?

Answer 8

Head at 1 year
Greater at 3 years
Lesser at 12 years

Question 9

When does the upper epihysis fuse with the shaft of the femur?

Answer 9

18 years

Question 10

With what part does teh neck of the femur ossify?

Answer 10

The neck is part of the shaft and ossifies with it rather than the epiphysis.

Question 11

What does teh patella form in? When? When is it complete?

Answer 11

Forms in hyaline cartilage at about 3 years, complete at puberty

Question 12

When does teh tibia ossify?

Answer 12

Ossifies in cartilage with a primary centre appearing about week 8.

Question 13

When does the upper pepihysis of teh tibia show a primary centre?

Answer 13

Immediately after birth. This is the growing end.

Question 14

When does the upper epiphysis join the shaft?

Answer 14

At about 20 yeras.

Question 15

What may appear at puberty on the tibia?

Answer 15

A secondary centre for teh tuberosity.

Question 16

When does the lower epiphysis of the tibia ossify?

Answer 16

In the second year, and joins teh shaft at about 198 years. The epiphysial line passes ~1cm above teh distal end, and includes teh medial malleolus.

Question 17

Where and when does ossification of the fibula initiate?

Answer 17

From a central site at week 8

Question 18

Where is the epiphysis of the fibula? When does this ossify and fuse?

Answer 18

Two epiphyses, one at each end. The head is the growing end and ossifies at year 4, fuses at year 20. The lower end ossifies at year 2, fuses at year 18.

Question 19

From what do foot bones ossify?

Answer 19

All ossify in cartilage.

Question 20

Which bones of the foot are ossified at birth?

Answer 20

The 3 bones of the tarsus

Question 21

When does the navicular ossify? When are the cuneiforms ossified?

Answer 21

Navicular - 4th year

Cuneiforms ossify in 1st to 4th years.

Question 22

When do the metatarsals and phalanges ossify?

Answer 22

Ossify in utero, but further centres develop at age 5. Fuse at 18.