The canal system in the diaphysial compacta of the femur in some mammals.

Abstract

The Haversian canal system in the diaphysial compacta of the femur in 4 mammalian species (dog, pig, bovine, horse) was studied on the decalcified bone using a method developed by the authors. In the microscopic studies we found that in all species the network aspects vary with the depth of the compacta layer. In all layers, there is a background of longitudinal canals with more or less regular trajectories describing large curves. The anastomoses linking them are main elements that define the variety of the network aspects both from layer to layer and from species to species. The canal densities vary between broad limits in the dog and horse, but less in the pig and bovine. The mean density decreases in the following order of species: dog, pig, horse and bovine femur. The Haversian canal diameter varies within narrow limits in the dog and pig. The limits are broader in the horse and bovine. The mean diameter diminishes in the following order of species: bovine, dog, horse, pig. We can conclude that the canal network differs from one species to another from all points of view: the canal system is homogeneous in none of these parameters.