Diaphysis

DIAPHYSIS, diaphysis (from Greek dia—through and phyo—I grow), a term by Heister, denoting the body (corpus) or the middle, more significant part of so-called long bones; it is contrasted with the ends (extremitates) or epiphyses (epiphysis). Under the influence of functional conditions, twisting along the axis of the diaphysis, its physiological curvatures, and thickenings occur (Figs. 1-4). In some

Figure 1-2. Femur (left-posterior, right-lateral): 1-fovea capit.; 2-troch. major; 3-troch. minor; 4-collum; 5-plan. poplit.; 6-epicondyl. med.; 7-condyl. med.; 8-condyl. lat.; 9-lin. pectin.; 10 and 14-lab. med. et lat. lin. asperae; 11 and 12-lin. et fossa intercondyl.; 13-epicondyl. lat.; 15-fossa trochant.; 16-lin. aspera. Figure 3-4. Femur (left-anterior, right-cross section): 1-fovea capit.; 2-collum; 3-troch. major; 4-lin. intertroch.; 5-troch. minor; 6 and 7-epicond. lat. et med.; 8-fac. patellar.; 9 and 10-proximal and distal parts of the epiphysis; 11-diaphysis; 12-subst. spongiosa; 13-subst. compacta; 14-cavum medullare.

pathological states on the basis of rickets, osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis, etc., bone deformities develop; in these cases, various curvatures of the diaphyses in their plane or along their axis are often observed. Deformities of the diaphysis of long tubular bones are more common in the lower extremities. Conditions of a static nature are of great importance in the origin of these deformities. The structure of the bone tissue in deformed diaphyses obeys the general laws of bone tissue construction. The harmony between the form and structure of the bone, respectively the diaphysis, remains unchanged.