The triradiate cartilage (in Latin cartilago ypsiloformis) is the 'Y'-shaped
epiphyseal plate
The epiphyseal plate (or epiphysial plate, physis, or growth plate) is a hyaline cartilage plate in the metaphysis at each end of a long bone. It is the part of a long bone where new bone growth takes place; that is, the whole bone is alive, wi ...
between the
ilium,
and
pubis to form the
acetabulum
The acetabulum (), also called the cotyloid cavity, is a concave surface of the pelvis. The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint.
Structure
There are three bones of the ''os coxae'' (hip bone) that c ...
of the
os coxae
The hip bone (os coxae, innominate bone, pelvic bone or coxal bone) is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates (including humans before puberty) it is composed of three parts: the ilium, ischi ...
.
Human development
In children, the triradiate cartilage closes at an approximate
bone age Bone age is the degree of a person's skeletal development. In children, bone age serves as a measure of physiological maturity and aids in the diagnosis of growth abnormalities, endocrine disorders, and other medical conditions. As a person grows fr ...
of 12 years for girls and 14 years for boys.
Clinical use
Evaluating the position of the triradiate cartilage on an
AP radiograph
Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeut ...
of the
pelvis
The pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton).
The ...
with both
Perkin's line
Perkin's line is a line drawn on an AP radiograph of the pelvis perpendicular to Hilgenreiner's line at the lateral aspects of the triradiate cartilage of the acetabulum.
Clinical use
Used in conjunction with Hilgenreiner's line, Perkin's l ...
and
Hilgenreiner's line Hilgenreiner's line is a horizontal line drawn on an AP radiograph of the pelvis running between the inferior aspects of both triradiate cartilages of the acetabulums. It is named for Heinrich Hilgenreiner.
Clinical Use
Used in conjunction wi ...
can help establish a diagnosis of
developmental dysplasia of the hip.
References
See also
{{Pelvis
Pelvis