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Journal of anatomy1999; 193 ( Pt 4)(Pt 4); 535-549; doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1998.19340535.x

Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: variations with breeds and types of horse and influence of exercise.

Abstract: Navicular bones from the 4 limbs of 95 horses, classified in 9 categories, were studied. The anatomical bases were established for the morphometry of the navicular bone and its variations according to the category of horse, after corrections were made for front or rear limb, sex, weight, size and age. In ponies, navicular bone measurements were smallest for light ponies and regularly increased with body size, but in horses, navicular bone dimensions were smallest for the athletic halfbred, intermediate for draft horse, thoroughbreds and sedentary halfbreds and largest for heavy halfbreds. The athletic halfbred thus showed reduced bone dimensions when compared with other horse types. Navicular bones from 61 horses were studied histomorphometrically. Light horses and ponies possessed larger amounts of cancellous bone and less cortical bone. Draft horses and heavy ponies showed marked thickening of cortical bone with minimum intracortical porosity, and a decrease in marrow spaces associated with more trabecular bone. Two distinct zones were observed for the flexor surface cortex: an external zone composed mainly of poorly remodelled lamellar bone, disposed in a distoproximal oblique direction, and an internal zone composed mainly of secondary bone, with a lateromedial direction for haversian canals. Flexor cortex external zone tended to be smaller for heavy ponies than for the light ponies. It was the opposite for horses, with the largest amount of external zone registered for draft horses. In athletic horses, we observed an increase in the amount of cortical bone at the expense of cancellous bone which could be the result of reduced resorption and increased formation at the corticoendosteal junction. Cancellous bone was reduced for the athletic horses but the number of trabeculae and their specific surfaces were larger. Increased bone formation and reduced resorption could also account for these differences.
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Publication Date: 1999-02-24 PubMed ID: 10029187PubMed Central: PMC1467879DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1998.19340535.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study analyzes the variances in the size and structure of the navicular bone in horses, attributed to the breed, size, and lifestyle of the horse. It suggests that the bone’s dimensions and the proportion of cortical and cancellous bone differ depending on these factors.

Morphometry of the Navicular Bone

The study used navicular bones from all four limbs of 95 horses, which were further categorized into 9 types. It established the anatomical basis for the morphometry (measurement) of the navicular bone, noting variations in its dimensions and structure based on factors such as:

  • Type of horse – athletic halfbred, draft, thoroughbred, or heavy halfbred.
  • Physical parameters – front or rear limb, sex, weight, size, and age.

In ponies, the size of the navicular bone was found to be smallest for light ponies and increased proportionally with body size. In contrast, athletic halfbred horses were observed to have the smallest navicular bones among the horse types.

Results of the Histomorphometric Studies

A histomorphometric study of navicular bones from 61 horses showed:

  • Light horses and ponies had more cancellous bone (spongy or trabecular bone) than cortical bone (dense and hard bone that forms the outer layer).
  • Draft horses and heavy ponies had a significant thickening of the cortical bone with the least intracortical porosity (spaces within the bone). They also showed a decrease in marrow spaces in correlation with an increase in trabecular bone.
  • They identified two distinct zones on the flexor surface cortex of the bone:
    • External zone – mainly composed of poorly remodeled lamellar bone in a distoproximal oblique direction.
    • Internal zone – primarily made up of secondary bone, with haversian canals going in a lateromedial direction.

The study also identified differences in the proportions of these zones. Heavy ponies had a smaller external zone in the flexor surface cortex than light ponies. Conversely, draft horses had a larger external zone.

In athletic horses, an increase in cortical bone at the detriment of cancellous bone was observed. This could be due to reduced resorption (breaking down of the bone) and increased formation at the corticoendosteal junction (where the cortical bone meets the endosteum). The cancellous bone was reduced, but the number and specific surfaces of the trabeculae (tiny structures inside the bone) were larger. Again, this could be due to increased bone formation and reduced resorption.

Cite This Article

APA
Gabriel A, Jolly S, Detilleux J, Dessy-Doize C, Collin B, Reginster JY. (1999). Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: variations with breeds and types of horse and influence of exercise. J Anat, 193 ( Pt 4)(Pt 4), 535-549. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-7580.1998.19340535.x

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 0021-8782
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 193 ( Pt 4)
Issue: Pt 4
Pages: 535-549

Researcher Affiliations

Gabriel, A
  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
Jolly, S
    Detilleux, J
      Dessy-Doize, C
        Collin, B
          Reginster, J Y

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Breeding
            • Horses / anatomy & histology
            • Horses / genetics
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal
            • Tarsal Bones / anatomy & histology

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            Citations

            This article has been cited 2 times.
            1. Paśko S, Dzierzęcka M, Purzyc H, Charuta A, Barszcz K, Bartyzel BJ, Komosa M. The Osteometry of Equine Third Phalanx by the Use of Three-Dimensional Scanning: New Measurement Possibilities. Scanning 2017;2017:1378947.
              doi: 10.1155/2017/1378947pubmed: 29109801google scholar: lookup
            2. Gabrie A, Detilleux J, Jolly S, Reginster J-Y, Collin B, Dessy-Doizé C. Morphometric study of the equine navicular bone: age-related changes and influence of exercise. Vet Res Commun 1999 Jan;23(1):15-40.
              doi: 10.1023/a:1006102921304pubmed: 10905816google scholar: lookup
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