Complex variation of trabecular bone structure in the proximal humerus and femur of five modern human populations

Doershuk, Lily J; Saers, Jaap P. P.; Shaw, Colin N.; Jashashvili, Tea; Carlson, Kristian J.; Stock, Jay T.; Ryan, Timothy M.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.23725

Cited by 30 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 74 publications

(163 reference statements)

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“…The mean humeral head DA among mustelids is fairly similar to that of xenarthrans and hence greater than that commonly featured by primates [25]. However, BV/TV is lower for this VOI in mustelids than in xenarthrans, falling in the range of primates ([31,40,41,46,55–57]; table 4) which might emphasize the particularly high bone content already signalled for xenarthrans in general [70–73].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Trabecular bone architecture in the stylopod epiphyses of mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora)

Amson

Kilbourne

2019

R. Soc. open sci.

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Mustelidae, a carnivoran clade that includes for instance weasels, badgers, otters and martens, has undergone several evolutionary transitions of lifestyle, resulting in specializations for fossorial, natatorial and scansorial locomotion, in addition to more generalized species. The family is therefore regarded as offering an adequate framework for morpho-functional analyses. However, the architecture of the epiphyseal trabecular bone, which is argued to be particularly responsive to the biomechanical environment, has never been studied. Here, we quantify trabecular bone parameters of the proximal and distal epiphyses of the humerus and femur in 29 species of mustelids and assess the differences of these parameters among groups defined a priori based on the aforementioned locomotor types. The parameters are assessed in a phylogenetic framework, taking into account the potential effect on an individual's body mass. The range of variation described by the acquired parameters is relatively restricted when compared to that of other clades. Generalists, however, are featuring a wider range of variation than the other types. While clear discrimination of locomotor types is difficult, some differences were highlighted by our analysis, such as a greater bone fraction associated with the natatorial taxa, which we discuss in a functional context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Trabecular bone architecture in the stylopod epiphyses of mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora)

Amson

Kilbourne

2019

R. Soc. open sci.

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“…Previous work has shown that there is substantial variation in trabecular properties within populations (Doershuk et al ; Saers et al ). Variation in bone mineral density within populations has been detected from the first year of life onwards in longitudinal studies (Loro et al ; Seeman, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Baby steps towards linking calcaneal trabecular bone ontogeny and the development of bipedal human gait

2019

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Trabecular bone structure in adulthood is a product of a process of modelling during ontogeny and remodelling throughout life. Insight into ontogeny is essential to understand the functional significance of trabecular bone structural variation observed in adults. The complex shape and loading of the human calcaneus provides a natural experiment to test the relationship between trabecular morphology and locomotor development. We investigated the relationship between calcaneal trabecular bone structure and predicted changes in loading related to development of gait and body size in growing children. We sampled three main trabecular regions of the calcanei using micro‐computed tomography scans of 35 individuals aged between neonate to adult from the Norris Farms #36 site (1300 AD, USA) and from Cambridge (1200–1500 AD, UK). Trabecular properties were calculated in volumes of interest placed beneath the calcaneocuboid joint, plantar ligaments, and posterior talar facet. At birth, thin trabecular struts are arranged in a dense and relatively isotropic structure. Bone volume fraction strongly decreases in the first year of life, whereas anisotropy and mean trabecular thickness increase. Dorsal compressive trabecular bands appear around the onset of bipedal walking, although plantar tensile bands develop prior to predicted propulsive toe‐off. Bone volume fraction and anisotropy increase until the age of 8, when gait has largely matured. Connectivity density gradually reduces, whereas trabeculae gradually thicken from birth until adulthood. This study demonstrates that three different regions of the calcaneus develop into distinct adult morphologies through varying developmental trajectories. These results are similar to previous reports of ontogeny in human long bones and are suggestive of a relationship between the mechanical environment and trabecular bone architecture in the human calcaneus during growth. However, controlled experiments combined with more detailed biomechanical models of gait maturation are necessary to establish skeletal markers linking growth to loading. This has the potential to be a novel source of information for understanding loading levels, activity patterns, and perhaps life history in the fossil record.

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“…Endurance runners were the only group in which adjusted mean TrabA differed significantly relative any other group. This enhanced distal tibial TrabA may be reflecting more complex three‐dimensional trabecular change, perhaps changes in the thickness of trabecular struts in response to loading (Doershuk et al, ; Mittra et al, ; Saers et al, ). For example, mean trabecular thickness in the calcanei of male endurance runners is significantly positively related to their weekly running distance and years of running (Best et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intensive terrestrial or marine locomotor strategies are associated with inter‐ and intra‐limb bone functional adaptation in living female athletes

Macintosh

Stock

2019

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objectives To systematically characterize intra‐limb patterns of skeletal plasticity to loading among living women, in order to better understand regional complexity in structural adaptation within the lower limb and more accurately infer behavior in the past. Materials and methods We used peripheral quantitative computed tomography imaging of the femur, tibia, first and second metatarsals to quantify bone morphology among female controls and athletes representative of either terrestrial or marine mobility, grouped by loading category (odd‐impact, repetitive low‐impact, and high‐magnitude). Parameters included midshaft bone density, areas, rigidity, and shape, epiphyseal bone densities and areas. We assessed between‐group differences and the influence of training history on significant variation among the loading groups. Results Terrestrial mobility strategies were best distinguished by significant midshaft periosteal hypertrophy across the lower limb/foot relative to controls, and by particularly high midshaft femoral and tibial cortical bone areas relative to rowers. Enhanced midshaft bone area was typically paired with decreased bone density among athlete groups. Sport‐specific variation in training duration/timing was significantly correlated with multiple midshaft parameters. Discussion Results demonstrate characteristic patterns of intra‐limb adaptation to terrestrial and marine mobility strategies among active women relative to controls, and highlight components of these patterns that may be shaped in part by differences in loading duration/timing. Additionally, our findings support constraints on skeletal variation in the distal tibia and foot relative to more proximal locations about the knee among living women. For example, metatarsal variation was constrained, but where present reflected sport‐specific variation in force distribution in the foot.

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Complex variation of trabecular bone structure in the proximal humerus and femur of five modern human populations

Abstract: This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Cited by 30 publications

References 74 publications

Trabecular bone architecture in the stylopod epiphyses of mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora)

Trabecular bone architecture in the stylopod epiphyses of mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora)

Baby steps towards linking calcaneal trabecular bone ontogeny and the development of bipedal human gait

Intensive terrestrial or marine locomotor strategies are associated with inter‐ and intra‐limb bone functional adaptation in living female athletes

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