Patake S M, Mysorekar V R
J Anat. 1977 Nov;124(Pt 2):299-304.
728 metacarpals and 691 metatarsals of unknown sex, and 120 metacarpals and metatarsals, each of known sex, were studied for the number, position, direction and symmetry of the diaphysial nutrient foramina. It was found that, in general, these bones had one nutrient foramen which was situated in the middle third of the shaft (over 90%). Few bones had no foramina and some had two. In the first and second metacarpals the foramina were mostly situated on the medial surface, and in the other metacarpals mostly on the lateral surface; whereas in the first three metatarsals the foramina were mostly situated on the lateral surface and in the remaining metatarsals mostly on the medial surface. There was a good deal of bilateral symmetry in the foramina. Without any exception, the foramina were directed away from the growing end. The various theories put forward to account for the direction of the nutrient foramina have been considered. The findings favour the 'growing-end' theory.
对728块性别不明的掌骨和691块跖骨，以及120块已知性别的掌骨和跖骨进行了骨干滋养孔的数量、位置、方向及对称性研究。结果发现，一般来说，这些骨头有一个滋养孔，位于骨干的中三分之一处（超过90%）。很少有骨头没有滋养孔，有些有两个。在第一和第二掌骨中，滋养孔大多位于内侧表面，而在其他掌骨中大多位于外侧表面；而在第一至第三跖骨中，滋养孔大多位于外侧表面，在其余跖骨中大多位于内侧表面。滋养孔存在大量双侧对称性。无一例外，滋养孔都背离生长端。已对提出的关于滋养孔方向的各种理论进行了考量。这些发现支持“生长端”理论。
