[Osteon patterns in the diaphysis of the human femur].

25 bone cylinders from 5 human femora were examined with respect to the direction of osteons, visualizing the Haversian systems. These canal systems, infiltrated with indian ink showed characteristic patterns. The osteons of the femur shaft run from proximally anterior to distally posterior, forming a double diagonal architecture. From these results it is derived, that the architecture of osteons may be looked at as a functional adaptation to mechanical stresses in the femur diaphysis.