A three-dimensional axis for the study of femoral neck orientation.

A common problem in the quantification of the orientation of the femoral neck is the difficulty to determine its true axis; however, this axis is typically estimated visually only. Moreover, the orientation of the femoral neck is commonly analysed using angles that are dependent on anatomical planes of reference and only quantify the orientation in two dimensions. The purpose of this study is to establish a method to determine the three-dimensional orientation of the femoral neck using a three-dimensional model.

Technical note: Shape variability induced by reassembly of human pelvic bones.

In traditional as well as in geometric morphometric studies, the shape of the pelvis is often quantified after the reassembly of the two hip bones and the sacrum. However, on dry bones, the morphology of the cartilaginous tissues that form the two sacroiliac joints and the pubic symphysis before death remains unknown, leading to potential inaccuracies and errors during the reassembly process. A protocol was established to investigate the effects of reassembly on the quantification of pelvis shape.

Study of femoral torsion during prenatal growth: interpretations associated with the effects of intrauterine pressure.

The developing fetus is protected from external environmental influences by maternal tissues. However, these structures have a limited elasticity, such that the fetus must grow in a confined space, constraining its size at the end of pregnancy. Can these constraints modify the morphology of the fetal skeleton? The intensity of these constraints increases between 5 months and birth, making it the most appropriate period to address this question.