Abstract: Objective     To explore the distribution and morphological characteristics of nutrient foramina in femoral neck and to discuss its relation with the osteoporosis femoral neck fracture.    Methods Seventy-three cases of dry femoral specimens were collected in this study, among them, there were 12 cases in the osteoporosis group and 61 cases in the normal group. The location, number, diameter and square about the nutrient foramina in femoral neck were investigated and the proportion of the different diameters of the nutrient foramina was measured as well.     Results    The number and area percent of the nutrient foramina in superior area were the most both in normal group and in osteoporosis group. Compared with the normal group, the diameter and area percent of nutrient foramina in the posterior and superior area in osteoporosis group were obviously smaller, there was significant difference between these two groups.     Conclusions    The number of the nutrient foramina in the superior area is large, with large square, this may be an anatomical factor causing structural weakness in the area which resulting in the femoral neck fracture. The area percent and diameter of nutrient foramina in the same area in osteoporosis group is obviously smaller, it is possible that the osteoporotic femoral neck fracture has close relations with its poorly blood supply.

Key words:  , Femoral neck,  ,  ,  , Nutrient foramina,  ,  ,  , Osteoporosis,  ,  , Femoral neck fracture