[Order of appearance of the ossification centers in the foot during the period of intrauterine life in human material]

Abstract

Forty seven skeletons belonging to human fetuses, whose age ranged from eight to thirty eight weeks, were studied in order to establish the beginning of ossification in the bones. Red alizarin was employed in order to stain bone calcifications. Our observations agree with other authors considered as references nonetheless, we also have found differences among the beginning and the sequence of development of some of the primary centers of ossification in the fetal foot. The appearance of the ossification centers was as follows: 1) the five metatarsals: 9th. week; 2) distal phalange first digit; 11th. week; 3) a) proximal phalange 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 digits: 12th. week, b) distal phalange 2, 3, 4, 5 digits: 12th. week; 4) middle phalange second digit: 17th. week; 5) a) middle phalange fourth digit: 18th. week, b) middle phalange third digit: 18th. week, y 6) middle phalange fifth digit: 21th. week.