A STUDY OF VASCULAR FORAMINA OF THE UPPER END OF THE DRY ADULT HUMAN FEMUR BONES Poornima B * 1 , Angadi A V 2 . *1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, Karnataka, India. 2  Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, S.S.I.M.S.&RC Davangere, Karnataka, India. Address   for   correspondence:   Dr.   Poornima   B,   Assistant   Professor,   Department   of   Anatomy,   Vijayanagar   Institute   of   Medical   Sciences,   Ballari,   Karnataka, India. E-Mail:  pnima73@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background:   Femur   is   the   long   bone   of   thigh.   Femur   is   richly   vascularized   bone   deriving   its   arterial   input   from   umpteen   vessels.   The   upper   end   of   the   femur in general showed rich vascularization. Objectives:   To   observe   the   location   or   distribution   of   vascular   foramina,   to   quantify   the   number   of      vascular   foramina,   to   measure   the   size   of   the   vascular foramina, to observe the direction of the vascular foramina in different segments of upper end of femur bones. Materials   and   Methods:   The   present   study   was   undertaken   on   100   dry   adult   normal   human   femur   bones   of   both   sides,   irrespective   of   sex.   The   bones   were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, S.S.I.M.S. & RC Davangere, Karnataka, India. Results:   In   the   present   study,   maximum   average   number   of   vascular   foramina   was   observed   in   the   neck   posterior   region   and   minimum   average   number   of vascular   foramina   was   observed   in   head.   Size   of   vascular   foramina   varies   from   ≥1.27mm   to   <   0.71   mm.   Maximum   average   number   of   vascular   foramina were directed horizontally. Interpretation and Conclusion : Knowledge of vascular anatomy is helpful in early identification of vascular interruptions leading to osteonecrosis. KEY WORDS: Vascular Foramina, Ischaemic Necrosis, Perforating arteries, Lesser Trochanter, Greater Trochanter. References 1 . Laroche M. Intraosseous circulation from physiology to disease. Joint Bone Spine. 2002;69:262-69. 2 . Datta AK. Principles of general Anatomy.6th ed. Kolkata, India : Current books international; 2010.p.75-77. 3 . Al-Motabagani, M A H. The Arterial Architecture Of the Human Femoral Diaphysis. J Anat. Soc. India. 2002;51(1):27-31. 4 . Tucker FR. Arterial supply at the femoral head and its clinical importance. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1949 Feb;31B(1):82-93. 8. 5 . Lavigne   M,   Kalhor   M,   Beck   M,   Ganz   R,   Leunig   M.   Distribution   of   vascular   foramina   around   the   femoral   head   and   neck   junction:   relevance   for conservative intracapsular procedures of the hip. Orthop Clin North Am. 2005 Apr;36(2):171-6. 6 . Kleinberg S. Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head following traumatic dislocation: report of two cases. Arch Surg. 1939 Oct;39(4):637-646. 7 . Howe   WW,   Lacey   T,   Schwartz   RP.   A   study   of   the   gross   anatomy   of   the   arteries   supplying   the   proximal   portion   of   the   femur   and   the   acetabulum.   J   Bone Joint Surg Am. 1950 Oct;32(4):856-66.  8 . Garden RS. Malreduction and avascular necrosis in subcapital fractures of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1971 May;53(2):183-97.  9 . Churchill MA, Brookes M, Spencer JD. The blood supply of the greater trochanter. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992 Mar;74(2):272-4.  1 0 . Naito,   Masatoshi,   Ogata,   Kosuke,   Emoto.   The   Blood   Supply   to   the   Greater   Trochanter.   Clinical   Orthopaedics   &   Related   Research:   Feb   1996;323:294- 297. 1 1 . Romanes GJ. Cunninghams manual of practical anatomy vol 1. 15 th ed. London: Oxford Medical Publications; 2013.p.126-28 1 2 . Cooper A. A treatise on dislocation and fractures of joints, London; Longman and Hurst;1842. 1 3 . Walmsley T. The Epiphysis of the Head of the Femur. J Anat Physiol. 1915 July;49(4):434–440. 14. Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinically oriented anatomy. 7 th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2013.p.632.