THE OSSIFICATION CENTER OF THE TALUS

The ossification of the talus was studied in plastinated and histologi cal preparations of normal feet of eight newborn children. Quantitativ e data on the newborn talus were obtained with the IBAS image analysis system and by point counting methods. In the newborn talus up to 24 p ercent of the talar anlage already consists of bony tissue. The ossifi cation centre is situated in the neck, which includes the non-articula ting surfaces of the talus. Periosteal bone joins the endochondral cen tre below and, in well-differentiated specimens also above. The basal periosteal collar forms the surfaces of the sinus and canalis tarsi, w hereas the cranial bony collar is included in the tibiotalar joint. Th e histological architecture of these periosteal collars differs. Four arteries contribute to the blood supply of the talar ossification cent re.