Morphometric Analysis of Long Bones of Hamdani Crossbred Sheep Fetuses (Ovis aries) in the Second and Third Trimester: 3D Model

Abstract

Objectives: In our study, it was aimed to obtain 3D models of femur and tibia bones using CT images in Hamdani crossbred sheep fetuses (second and third trimester) and to determine the developmental differences between sexes. Materials-Methods: Fetuses of pregnant sheep slaughtered in Siirt province slaughterhouse were used. The gestational days of the fetuses were estimated using a previously determined formula. A total of 32 Hamdani crossbred sheep fetuses, 16 second trimester (8 females and 8 males) and 16 third trimester (8 females and 8 males) were used in the study. CT imaged the hind leg bones of the fetuses and the images were modeled in 3D Slicer software. Nine measurements were taken from the models. The measurements were evaluated statistically. Results: In the second trimester, the FL parameter had a statistically significant difference between males and females (p<0.01). FDW parameter also showed a significant difference between males and females in this period (p<0.05). In the third trimester, the TPW measurement parameter had a highly significant difference between genders (p<0.01), and the ITDD parameter showed a significant difference between genders in the same period (p<0.05). Conclusions: Osteometric studies are quite limited because bone development continues in the fetal period. In this sense, it is thought that the results of our research, which is the first 3D modeling study, will be useful in the fields of anatomy, zooarchaeology, taxonomy, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery.