[Boundaries between the physiological and the beginnings of pathology in the development of the proximal femoral epiphysis (author's transl)].

This article describes the physiological development of the proximal femoral epiphysis and its variable aspects. It also includes a discussion of the transition to the pathological changes characteristic of dysplasia of the head of the femur and of Legg-Calvé-Perthes' disease, basing on a latent ischaemic phase in the development of the proximal femoral epiphysis, resulting from hypoplastic vascular development.