Morphometric analysis of cartilage canals in the developing mouse epiphysis.

Cartilage canal development in the distal femoral epiphysis of 5- to 7-day-old mice can be divided into three stages as previously described [Cole and Wezeman, Am. J. Anat. 174: 119-129, 1985]. Using this model, a morphometric analysis of canal volume density at the three stages of development was performed and provided evidence that canal formation significantly exceeds epiphyseal growth. These data are consistent with initial canal formation by invasion rather than by inclusion.