Epiphysodiaphyseal Growth Zones in Metapodium and Acropodium of Cattle in Postnatal Ontogenesis

Abstract

Cerveny C.: Ep;physodiaphyseal Growth Zones in Metapodium and Acropodium of Cattle in Postnatal Ontogenesis. Acta vet. Bmo, 49, 1980: 11-30. Anatomic and radiologic methods were used for the study and description of macroscopic changes in the epiphysodiaphyseal growth zones of the metapodium and acropodium of cattle in the postnatal developmental period. The results were obtained from 79 clinically healthy animals of the Czech Red-Spotted cattle aged from birth to 15 years. Localization of the epiphysodiaphyseal zone in the metapodium and acropodium of calves and juvenile cattle was determined by means of external orientation points on a live animal. We are suggesting their possible access during experimental and clinical interventions. By means of comparison of radiographs with osteologically treated preparations, a typical RTG-picture of different parts of the epiphysodiaphyseal growth zones in the metapodium and proximal and middle phalanges of the digits was described. The ontogenetic developmental series of the postnatal period was used to study changes in the RTG-picture and in the epiphysodiaphyseal growth cartilage and the diaphyseal and epiphyseal osseous plates in the macrostructure. By destruction of the epiphysodiaphyseal growth cartilage the epiphysodiaphyseal growth zone grows into the epiphysodiaphyseal scar which gradually disappears due to inner rebuilding of the bone. Development, epiphysodiaphyseal growth zones, anatomy and rentgenology, cattle.The epiphysodiaphyseal growth zones are differentiated in cartilaginous bone patterns with establishment of epiphyseal ossification centres. Formation of secondary ossification centres in different skeletal bones of cattle limbs was described by Kupfer and Schinz (1923), Vokken (1950), Fedrigo (1957 and Lindsay (1969). They suggest that in the course of the seventh month of the intrauterine life secondary ossification centres appear in the phalanx proximalis and phalanx media and subsequently distal epiphyseal centres appear in the metapodium. Development. of skeletal bones and disappearance of epiphysodiaphyseal growth cartilages in skeletal bones of domestic mammals in the prenatal and postnatal periods were studied by Vokken and Tarasov (1968). According to these authors establishment of a secondary ossification centre in the proximal ulnar epiphysis can be taken as a sign of terminated intrauterine development. Kolda (1936) and Barone (1966) have given more precisely defined data on disappearance of growth cartilages from the skeletal bones of domestic mammals. They have suggested that the epiphysodiaphyseal cartilages in the phalanx media in cattle disappear between the 15th -18th months after birth, in the phalanx proximalis between the 20th -24th months and in the metapodia at the age of2 years and a half. The microscopic structure of the epiphyseal growth cartilage of cattle metatarsus in ontogenesis was studied by Lassila (1928). The author described changes in thickness and shape of the cartilage as well as alterations in microstru...

Ageing Cattle: The Use of Radiographic Examinations on Cattle Metapodials from Eketorp Ringfort on the Island of Öland in Sweden

“…Data on the size and sex ratio of cattle presented in an earlier study was utilized [ 51 ] in comparison with radiographic studies by Kratochvil et al [ 10 ] and Červenýs [ 8 ] of modern cattle aged 2½-15 years or older. Cattle metapodials develop in three different areas: the third and fourth diaphysis and distal trochlea.…”

“…In dry metapodia, depending on age at slaughter, the structure from the distal growth plate leaves a different imprint visible on the X-ray images. The classification of X-ray images follows the description by Červenýs [ 8 ] and Kratochvil et al [ 10 ] with radiographic images in six age groups (AG) as shown in Table 1 .…”

“…When the animals have reached the age of 6 years or older the “ the demarcation line of the epiphyseal-diaphyseal scar is obscure due to rebuilding that had occurred in the bones ”. When the animals have reached 15 years of age the osseous trabeculae of epiphyseal-diaphyseal scar has resorbed and its contour is no longer visible in the dry bone [ 8 ]. The distal parts of the diaphysis also changes shape during skeletal maturity, which is visible both to the naked eye and on the X-ray images.…”

“…X-ray analyses have been used to estimate age and sex and to understand animal exploitation in prehistory [ 6 – 14 ]. In particular the radiographic study by Červený [ 8 ]–complemented and described by Kratochvil et al [ 10 ] offers an interesting perspective on the ageing of cattle metapodials. When ossification of the distal trochlea in cattle metapodials is complete, the fusion line disappears, making it only possible to age an element visually as belonging to an animal aged older than 2½ years [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…When ossification of the distal trochlea in cattle metapodials is complete, the fusion line disappears, making it only possible to age an element visually as belonging to an animal aged older than 2½ years [ 4 , 5 ]. The study by Červený [ 8 ] shows that changes appear in the growth zone between the diaphysis and epiphysis after the age of 2½ years, making it possible to identify cattle metapodials from animals even older than ten years.…”