Evolution during growth of the mechanical properties of the cortical bone in equine cannon-bones.
Abstract: Two specimens (70.0 x 4.5 x 1.8 mm) (proximal and distal) of cortical bone were taken from each of the cranial, caudal, lateral and medial quadrants at mid-diaphysis of the third metacarpus and metatarsus of French saddle horses (12 males and seven females) aged from 1 day to 4 years. The mechanical properties (bending strength, Young's modulus, yield stress and ultimate specific deflection) were determined by a 4-point bending test, loading at a rate of 166 x 10(-6) ms-1. During growth, the mechanical properties of the cortical bone were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between metacarpus and metatarsus, but they were slightly higher in the proximal than in the distal diaphysis. The variations in these properties were significant (p < 0.0001) between quadrants. From birth to adult age, the lateral and medial quadrants had greater average bending strength (Sb = 226 +/- 27 MPa), average Young's modulus (E = 16 +/- 2 GPa) and average yield stress (Sy = 110 +/- 23 MPa) than the cranial quadrant (Sb = 209 +/- 23 MPa, E = 15 +/- 2 GPa, Sy = 99 +/- 18 MPa) while the caudal quadrant gave the lowest values (Sb = 195 +/- 30 MPa, E = 14 +/- 2 GPa, Sy = 92 +/- 21 MPa). During the growing period, the bending strength, the Young's modulus and the yield stress were positively correlated with age (p < 0.01) and the total body weight (p < 0.001) of the horses. Conversely, the ultimate specific deflection decreased slightly during the same period. The mechanical properties of the cortex were also related (p < 0.005) to the mineral content (ash or calcium). The Young's modulus was particularly correlated to calcium content (p < 0.0001). It is also linearly related to the bending strength (r = 0.8), and its in vivo determination by the ultrasound method should provide an easy and non-invasive investigation means of the mechanical properties of the cortical bone in equine cannon-bones.
Publication Date: 1996-01-01 PubMed ID: 8771043DOI: 10.1016/1350-4533(95)00022-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study looked at how the mechanical properties of the cortical bone in the legs of horses change as they grow, using samples from various areas of the bone at different developmental stages.
Research Process
- The researchers used two specimens from each of the cranial, caudal, lateral, and medial quadrants at mid-diaphysis of the third metacarpus and metatarsus of French saddle horses. The horses ranged in age from 1 day to 4 years.
- The mechanical properties of the bone, including bending strength, Young’s modulus, yield stress, and ultimate specific deflection, were determined using a 4-point bending test.
Research Findings
- Throughout growth, the research team found no significant difference in the mechanical properties of the cortical bone between the metacarpus and metatarsus. However, slightly higher properties were noted in the proximal than in the distal diaphysis.
- There were significant differences however between quadrants – the lateral and medial quadrants showed greater bending strength, Young’s modulus and yield stress compared to the cranial quadrant. The caudal quadrant had the lowest values.
- These mechanical properties (bending strength, Young’s modulus, yield stress) were positively correlated with the age and overall body weight of the horses.
- Conversely, ultimate specific deflection decreased slightly during the same period.
Mineral Content and Mechanical Properties
- There was also a correlation found between the mechanical properties and the mineral content (specifically, ash or calcium) within the cortical bone.
- In particular, the Young’s modulus was highly correlated with calcium content.
- The Young’s modulus was also linearly related to the bending strength.
Implication of Findings
- The researchers highlight that their findings indicate that an ultrasound method could be used to non-invasively study the mechanical properties of the cortical bone in equine legs.
Cite This Article
APA
Bigot G, Bouzidi A, Rumelhart C, Martin-Rosset W.
(1996).
Evolution during growth of the mechanical properties of the cortical bone in equine cannon-bones.
Med Eng Phys, 18(1), 79-87.
https://doi.org/10.1016/1350-4533(95)00022-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Laboratoire Croissance et Metabolisme des Herbivores, Centre de Recherches de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, St Genes Champanelle, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Biophysical Phenomena
- Biophysics
- Bone Density
- Bone Development / physiology
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Female
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- In Vitro Techniques
- Male
- Stress, Mechanical
- Tensile Strength
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Dooley KA, McCormack J, Fyhrie DP, Morris MD. Stress mapping of undamaged, strained, and failed regions of bone using Raman spectroscopy. J Biomed Opt 2009 Jul-Aug;14(4):044018.
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