OS MENISCI MEDIALIS IN PUMA (PUMA-CONCOLO R)

With X-ray, osteologic preparative, and histologic methods we detected bone tissue within menisci of knee-joints in three adult pumas (Puma concolor). Oval demarcated regions of bone tissue of 0.5 - 1 cm in dia meter occured always within the medial meniscus of the knee-joint, in its craniomedial part closely cranially from the shadow of the eminent ia intercondylaris in the radiograph. The microscopic examination reve aled the typical secondary bone, composed of lamellae with numerous mi nute cavities amidst trabeculae. Foreshadowings of circularly arranged bone lamellae (Havers' lamellar system) occured sporadically.Regardin g to the regularity of the occurence within the medial meniscus only a nd regarding to the regularity of the localization of these minute bon es in all studied cases one can state that this is a heterotopic bone, the regular item of the skeleton of adult individuals within the stud ied species. This matter of fact should be taken into consideration ev en by evaluating a radiograph of clinically examined animal knee-joint .