Aging in the musculoskeletal system of rhesus monkeys: I. Passive joint excursion

Abstract

In order to describe ontogenetic change in the musculoskeletal system of rhesus monkeys, 126 Macaca mulatta from Cayo Santiago, ranging in age from 7 months to 21 years, were examined under anesthesia. Passive joint excursions were measured at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee. Mean ranges of excursion at these joints differed significantly between age groups and by sex. The potential for most movements appeared to decrease approximately 25 degrees over the first two decades of the macaque life span, and males generally showed less potential for movement than females in all age groups. These results are similar to those obtained for humans and are consistent with patterns of positional behavior, trauma, and osteoarthritis observed in this rhesus monkey population. Thus, to fully describe the locomotor strategy of rhesus monkeys, age- and sex-related variation in locomotor anatomy and functional capacity must be considered.

Range of Passive Flexion and Extension of Hindlimb Joints in the Japanese Macaque

“…Surg., 1965). DEROUSSEAU et al (1983) found, in addition, a significantly higher knee joint mobility (p<0.05) in females than in males. A trend to the contrary was observed in our result, though without statistical significance.…”

“…Angles of the hip joint extended maximally were somewhat greater in the patas monkeys than in our subjects, though difference of the reference lines for angular measurements may contribute to this discrepancy. DEROUSSEAU et al (1983) measured ranges of passive joint excursion in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).…”

Free‐ranging Cayo Santiago rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta): I. Body size, proportion, and allometry

“…Six through 9 years of age are the years immediately following complete eruption of permanent dentition [Cheverud, 19811; 10 through 14 years of age represent animals in their prime; and 15 years of age and over are aged animals [Schultz, 1956;Rawlins et al, 19841. There were large standard deviations for some measurements of 15-to 19-year-old males as the result of inclusion of one animal (age 19) with extreme kyphosis of the spine and an inability to extend his upper limb fully. Because body and limb lengths were measured linearly between the two endpoints, measurements for crown-rump length, upper limb length, and Quetelet Index of this animal were extremely small when compared with age cohorts, but he was not eliminated from the sample because his individual limb segments were typical for his age group, and both kyphosis and restriction of limb mobility are typical agerelated changes in this population [DeRousseau, 1982;DeRousseau et al, 1981DeRousseau et al, , 1983DeRousseau et al, , 1986Turnquist, 1986;Turnquist & Kessler, this issue].…”

Mobility of Hindlimb Joints in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) as Influenced by Biarticular Musculature

“…Among the few papers focused on joint mobility in primates, measurements in living subjects were made for the whole range of passive joint excursion in the rhesus macaque (Macaco mulatto) by DeRousseau et al [6], in the patas monkey (Erythrocebuspatas) by Turnquist [7|. and in the Japanese macaque by Okada and Kimura [8|.…”

“…In these studies, an accurate estimate of biophysical as well as kinematic parameters is indispensable Joint mobility is one of these parameters. Unfortunately, while joint mobility is well documented for humans [2], there have been few studies in nonhuman primates [3][4][5][6][7].…”