Directional asymmetry of facial and limb traits in horses and ponies

Lesniak, Kirsty

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.032

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Individuals with this asymmetrical muscular development as a result of chewing side preference, a right side in our studied case, were expected to have increased level of directional asymmetry. Thus, a normal directional asymmetry may well be of functional origin in sheep, in the same way as there is a definite right-side preference in chewing in primates, including humans [25,26] and in other vertebrates [27,15,28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Side Differences in the Skull of Sheep: An Assessment by Geometric Morphometrics

Casanova

Tolić

Carnicero

2020

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Effects of perturbations during development can be due to environmental and/or genetic factors, resulting in increased developmental instability which in turn can be expressed as fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as the non-directional deviation (right-left differences) from bilateral symmetry. However, other asymmetry types can appear, such as and directional asymmetry (DA), characterized by a distribution skewed to one side (right or left) at the, which is originated as a response to external stimuli that affect differentially on both sides of the organism. In order to describe asymmetric patterns in the ovine skull, we studied 165 specimens from animals belonging to the sheep breed “Navarra” from North Spain, using geometric morphometric methods. On digital pictures, we analyzed two midline and 8 bilateral two-dimensional landmarks on skull dorsal aspect. Results showed that FA accounted for a reduced amount of total variation, while DA explained most of it. We suggest that the presence of side differences due to lateralized muscular function (mastication) is the most important factor in skull asymmetry. Obtained results should provide a basis for relating asymmetries to the mechanics of cranial skeletum in sheep.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Side Differences in the Skull of Sheep: An Assessment by Geometric Morphometrics

Casanova

Tolić

Carnicero

2020

ARRB

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“…The results of studies on asymmetry between bilateral bones of the equine autopodium are equivocal. Analyses were performed both on live animals [ 25 – 27 ] and on isolated bones [ 28 – 30 ]. Studies on live horses were based on caliper measurements of corresponding sections of bilateral limbs, with particular anatomical structures of the measured bones constituting reference points.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results indicated that bilateral limb asymmetry in horses was unrelated to the type of training and that it might be typical in the species regardless of breed and use. The third metacarpal and third metatarsal bones were longer on the right side, while proximal phalanges were wider on the left side [ 27 ]. Other researchers assessed the cortical thickness of the third metacarpal bone in race horses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Osteometry of Equine Third Phalanx by the Use of Three-Dimensional Scanning: New Measurement Possibilities

et al. 2017

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This study consisted in analyzing the asymmetry between bilateral third phalanges (coffin bones) in cold-blood horses based on the angle range of the plantar margin of the bone. The study employed a scanner projecting a hybrid set of images, consisting of sinusoidal stripes preceded by a Gray code sequence. As it turned out, three-dimensional scanning can be used to effectively determine the angle range for a selected portion of the studied bone. This provides broad possibilities for osteometric studies, as it enables the determination of angle distribution in a given fragment. The results obtained indicate a weak correlation between age and bilateral third-phalanx asymmetry in terms of the angle range of the plantar margins and no correlation between body weight and the asymmetry described.

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“…This finding could have two explanations. First, some studies have reported that many horses have functional (directional) asymmetry (Lesniak 2013), which could have repercussions in the dimensions of some articular structures, such as the recesses. Second, some animals had previously competed in different racecourses, and the stress of racing, specifically in regards to left-leaning track turns, could explain these lateral differences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonographic measurements on normal tarsocrural articular recesses in the Standardbred Trotter horse

Pitti

Carrillo

Rubio

et al. 2017

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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The aim of this study was to provide reference measurements from the three tibiotarsal synovial recesses (plantarolateral, plantaromedial, and dorsomedial) from both right and left sound equine hock joints. For this study, proximodistal and plantarodorsal (PLD) diameters were ultrasonographically obtained from the synovial recesses of 24 sound Standardbred Trotter horses. A comparison between right and left limb measurements was also made. The dorsomedial recess has shown a variable PLD diameter (0.11-0.90 cm), although the plantarolateral recess has shown the most variable dimensions (0.3-1.5 cm). In many cases, great differences have been found between two tarsi within the same horse; in contrast, the plantaromedial recess of the tarsocrural joint has a more homogeneous PLD diameter (0.6-0.9 cm). Ultimately, the assessed echographic limits for the studied tarsal structures could serve to accurately evaluate the pathological variations for this breed.

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Directional asymmetry of facial and limb traits in horses and ponies

Cited by 14 publications

References 35 publications

Side Differences in the Skull of Sheep: An Assessment by Geometric Morphometrics

Side Differences in the Skull of Sheep: An Assessment by Geometric Morphometrics

The Osteometry of Equine Third Phalanx by the Use of Three-Dimensional Scanning: New Measurement Possibilities

Ultrasonographic measurements on normal tarsocrural articular recesses in the Standardbred Trotter horse

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