title: A study of the dimensions and taper angles of the medullary canals of the proximal and middle phalanges.
abstract: The morphology and dimensions of the medullary canals of the proximal and middle phalanges have been studied with particular interest shown to the angle of taper of these canals. Measurements of 50 cadaveric fingers were taken from computer aided tomographic images using AutoCAD software. Tangents were fitted to the inner cortices in two orthogonal planes and the angles between them were measured. The angles of canal taper in the proximal phalanx were remarkably similar for each digit. This was also true for the middle phalanx of the index, middle and ring fingers but the taper of the middle phalanx of the little finger was found to be different.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cutts
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed