[Analysis of mineral composition of femoral bones in the human fetus].

The actual paper presents the method and results of studies covering bone mineralization processes on the basis of analyzing selected elements. The aim of the study has been: 1) determination of the content of more important elements in fetal femoral bones, 2) thorough study of fluorine concentration changes in fetal bones at various fetal life period, 3) finding out whether there are statistically significant differences between the contents of elements forming the bone--at respective stages of fetal development. The material comprised 66 femoral bones of human fetuses being of different age: Ca, Mg, Zn and Fe were determined with an atomic spectrophotometer, P colorimetrically, and F potentiometrically. The performed studies have revealed an increase of Ca and P with the age. Magnesium content was also rising, but less regularly. The process of fluorine cumulation was evidenced too. On the basis of the studies the following conclusions have been drawn, namely: The results of analyzing the bone mineral content furnish an insight into the course of the fetal skeletal formation process. Fluorine content in fetal femoral bones fails to correlate with the level of calcium and phosphate, which reflects the lack of evident influence exerted by fluorine upon the mineralization processes proceeding at this period of life. Placenta does not provide an effective barrier for fluorine transport into the bones of the growing fetus. Storage of anatomical specimens in preserving solutions may have an essential influence on the content of elements bound in labile manner with the bone mineral structure.