FACTOR ANALYSIS IN THE PROOF OF THE LATENT SYSTEMATIC ASYMMETRY IN THE CONTRALATERAL SKELETAL SEGMENTS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE CANINE FEMUR

Abstract

In this paper we analyze some specific features in the femoral bone structure in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). By application of some original research method of converting linear dimension measurements of femur anatomical structure into relative variables with their further analysis by nonparametric statistics methods and correlation analysis in order to build correlation pleiades we revealed systematic asymmetry in the canine femur. In our research we ascertained that the transverse dimension parameters of the proximal epiphysis prevail over the corresponding parameters in the distal epiphysis. As it appeared, there is a definite trend of transverse parameters predominance in the femoral head over its upper - lower parameters. The factor analysis by the principal components allowed us to reveal the asymmetric impact of some unknown factors on the homologous structure of the animal femur. Our research made an attempt to identify the factors that ensure that equivalent impact on the condyles parameters and the front length of the femur neck regardless of the limb lateralization. While, Spearman's rank correlation analysis with regard to different sides of the body displayed the correlations present in both cases, within the right and the left femur groups. Besides, the pronounced asymmetry in correlations spectrum was also established.