BACKGROUND Long bones receive majority of its nourishment through nutrient arteries. These arteries enter long bones through nutrient foramina. It is important to have an understanding of diaphyseal nutrient foramina in femur, especially in orthopaedic surgical procedures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the common number, location & direction of nutrient foramina of femur. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a descriptive study of 100 cleaned and dried human adult femora which were taken from Department of Anatomy, Guntur Medical College, Guntur and Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad and each femur was studied for location, direction & number of nutrient foramina. RESULTS The mean number of nutrient foramina per femur bone was 1.43 and mean distance of nutrient foramen from upper end was 20.5 cm. The foraminal index obtained was 49%. The commonest location of the nutrient foramen was on linea aspera {55.2%}. 52% of femora had only one nutrient foramen, while 44% had two nutrient foramina. 82.5 % of nutrient foramina were observed in the middle third of femur. All femora observed have the nutrient foramen directing upwards. CONCLUSION The study on nutrient foramina of long bones has clinical significance in interventional procedures like orthopaedic transplant techniques & microvascular bone transfer procedures.

BACKGROUND Nutrient foramina are cavities that conduct nutrient arteries and peripheral nerves on the shaft of long bones. Long bones receive most of the interosseous blood supply from nutrient arteries and sometimes through the periosteal vessels. The aim of this study was to determine the common location, direction & number of nutrient foramina of upper limb long bones. MATERIALS & METHODS This is descriptive study of a total 150 human upper limb long bones {50 humeri, 50 radii & 50 ulnae} taken from Department of Anatomy, Guntur Medical College, Guntur and each was studied for location, direction & number of nutrient foramina. RESULTS In humerus, a single nutrient foramen was found in 78% and double in 22% of bones, of them 62% foramina were on antero-medial surface, 25% on medial border, 5% on anterior border, 5% on posterior surface & 3% on lateral border. 87% of nutrient foramina were in middle third of shaft of humerus. All radii had single nutrient foramen, of them 70% were on anterior surface & 30% on interosseous border. 74% of nutrient foramina were in middle third & 26% were in upper third of shaft of radius. 98% of ulnae had single nutrient foramen & 2% had double nutrient foramina, of them 78.4% were on anterior surface, 11.8% on posterior surface, 5.9% on interosseous border & 3.9% on anterior border. 88.2% of nutrient foramina were in middle third & 11.8% in upper third of bone. All nutrient foramina were directed away from the growing end i.e., towards the elbow. CONCLUSION The study of nutrient foramina is of clinical importance in surgical procedures like orthopedic transplant techniques & microvascular bone transfer procedures.