Purpose: This study aims to analyze the shape and morphometric features of the obturator foramen (OF) in dry human bones.
Methods: Forty-six (Right:15, Left:31) dry human coxal bones were evaluated. Photographs of samples for morphometric measurements were taken using a transparent osteometric box (TOB) designed for this study. Horizontal and vertical diameters of OF were measured according to two different principles. Measurements were taken to determine the localization of OF on the coxal bone (hip bone) relative to the acetabulum, pubis, and ischium. Shape analysis (visual typing) of OF was performed with the conventional method. In order to examine the shape variations of the OF in more detail, quantitative shape analysis based on Elliptic Fourier Analysis was performed with the SHAPE software.
Results: A significant difference was observed between the diameter measurements obtained by the two methods (p<0,001). Six visual types were determined in the qualitative shape analysis (oval, ellipsoid, piriform, trapezoidal, triangular, and atypical). Researchers agreed on the shape types of 16 bones. Quantitative shape analysis revealed 77 principal components (PC). The first nine significant PC explained the variation in the shape of OF cumulatively by 92,61%.
Conclusion: The standard position, defined for the first time in this study, is recommended as an easy-to-reproduce position for dry bone measurements or radiological morphometric studies. The conventional shape analysis method (visual typing) is not capable of sufficient evidence-based discrimination. Therefore, examining the shape features of OF based on quantitative findings such as Elliptic Fourier Analysis may yield more accurate results.
Obturator foramen hip bone Morphometry Morphology Elliptic Fourier Analysis Principal Component Analysis
Primary Language | English |
---|---|
Subjects | Anatomy |
Journal Section | Research Article |
Authors | |
Publication Date | March 17, 2023 |
Submission Date | October 31, 2022 |
Published in Issue | Year 2023Volume: 14 Issue: 2 |