Horses and cows might teach us about human knees.
Abstract: Our comparative study of the knees of horses and cows (paraphrased as highly evolved joggers and as domesticated couch-potatoes, respectively) demonstrates significant differences in the posterior sections of bovine and equine tibial cartilage, which are consistent with specialisation for gait. These insights were possible using a novel analytical measuring technique based on the shearing of small biopsy samples, called dynamic shear analysis. We assert that this technique could provide a powerful new tool to precisely quantify the pathology of osteoarthritis for the medical field.
Publication Date: 2014-03-02 PubMed ID: 24585006DOI: 10.1007/s00114-014-1163-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research paper explores the differences in the knee structures of horses and cows and how understanding these differences could assist in quantifying the pathology of human osteoarthritis.
Objective of the Research
- The objective of this study is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to establish a comparison between the knees of horses (represented as active beings) and cows (pictured as inactive creatures), particularly focusing on the differences in the posterior sections of their tibial cartilage. Secondly, the paper proposes the utilization of dynamic shear analysis, a new measuring technique, to aid in determining the extent of osteoarthritis pathology, specifically in humans.
Methodology
- To achieve this scientific goal, researchers adopted dynamic shear analysis, a novel technique that involves the shearing of small biopsy samples. This approach provided the necessary insight into the differences in the knee structures of horses and cows.
Findings
- The research highlighted significant differences in the posterior sections of the tibial cartilage of horses and cows. According to the study, these differences are consistent with specialization for their respective gait.
- The study confirmed that horses and cows have evolved differently reflecting their physical activities or lack thereof. Hence, horses (active joggers) have different knee structures compared to cows (domesticated, less active animals).
Implication and Application
- The research implies that understanding the mechanics and structure of the knees in different animals could shed light on human osteoarthritis. Differentiation in the knee structures could give rise to differing patterns of diseases and their severity.
- The study promotes the application of dynamic shear analysis as a powerful tool in precisely quantifying the pathology of human osteoarthritis. Quantifying the disease severity could potentially assist in developing effective therapeutic methods.
Cite This Article
APA
Holland C, Vollrath F, Gill HS.
(2014).
Horses and cows might teach us about human knees.
Naturwissenschaften, 101(4), 351-354.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1163-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Cartilage / anatomy & histology
- Cartilage / physiology
- Cattle / anatomy & histology
- Gait / physiology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Humans
- Knee / anatomy & histology
- Tibia / anatomy & histology
References
This article includes 13 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Lewis R, Gómez Álvarez CB, Rayman M, Lanham-New S, Woolf A, Mobasheri A. Strategies for optimising musculoskeletal health in the 21(st) century.. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 Apr 11;20(1):164.
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