The influence of collagen fiber orientation and other histocompositional characteristics on the mechanical properties of equine cortical bone.
Abstract: This study examined relative influences of predominant collagen fiber orientation (CFO), mineralization (% ash), and other microstructural characteristics on the mechanical properties of equine cortical bone. Using strain-mode-specific (S-M-S) testing (compression testing of bone habitually loaded in compression; tension testing of bone habitually loaded in tension), the relative mechanical importance of CFO and other material characteristics were examined in equine third metacarpals (MC3s). This model was chosen since it had a consistent non-uniform strain distribution estimated by finite element analysis (FEA) near mid-diaphysis of a thoroughbred horse, net tension in the dorsal/lateral cortices and net compression in the palmar/medial cortices. Bone specimens from regions habitually loaded in tension or compression were: (1) tested to failure in both axial compression and tension in order to contrast S-M-S vs non-S-M-S behavior, and (2) analyzed for CFO, % ash, porosity, fractional area of secondary osteonal bone, osteon cross-sectional area, and population densities of secondary osteons and osteocyte lacunae. Multivariate multiple regression analyses revealed that in S-M-S compression testing, CFO most strongly influenced total energy (pre-yield elastic energy plus post-yield plastic energy); in S-M-S tension testing CFO most strongly influenced post-yield energy and total energy. CFO was less important in explaining S-M-S elastic modulus, and yield and ultimate stress. Therefore, in S-M-S loading CFO appears to be important in influencing energy absorption, whereas the other characteristics have a more dominant influence in elastic modulus, pre-yield behavior and strength. These data generally support the hypothesis that differentially affecting S-M-S energy absorption may be an important consequence of regional histocompositional heterogeneity in the equine MC3. Data inconsistent with the hypothesis, including the lack of highly longitudinal collagen in the dorsal-lateral ;tension' region, paradoxical histologic organization in some locations, and lack of significantly improved S-M-S properties in some locations, might reflect the absence of a similar habitual strain distribution in all bones. An alternative strain distribution based on in vivo strain measurements, without FEA, on non-Thoroughbreds showing net compression along the dorsal-palmar axis might be more characteristic of the habitual loading of some of the bones that we examined. In turn, some inconsistencies might also reflect the complex torsion/bending loading regime that the MC3 sustains when the animal undergoes a variety of gaits and activities, which may be representative of only a portion of our animals, again reflecting the possibility that not all of the bones examined had similar habitual loading histories.
Publication Date: 2006-07-22 PubMed ID: 16857886DOI: 10.1242/jeb.02304Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This research paper investigates how the orientation of collagen fibers and other microstructural characteristics affect the mechanical properties of horse cortical bone. The key finding is that these factors have a profound impact, particularly on the bone’s energy absorption ability.
Background and Purpose of the Study
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of collagen fiber orientation (CFO), the degree of mineralization (% ash), and other microstructural characteristics on the mechanical properties of an equine cortical bone.
- The research aimed to discern the relative importance of CFO and other characteristics in shaping the mechanical strength of bone tissue.
Methodology
- The study utilized strain-mode-specific (S-M-S) testing; this involves testing the bone under the tension Vs compression conditions in which it is normally subjected.
- The specific model used for testing was the third metacarpal bone (MC3) of a thoroughbred horse. This was chosen mainly due to its consistent non-uniform strain distribution.
- The bone specimens from areas regularly subjected to tension or compression were tested and analyzed for various properties including collagen fiber orientation, % ash, porosity, and population densities of secondary osteons and osteocyte lacunae.
- These results were examined using multi-variate multiple regression analyses to uncover the relationship between the various factors and their effect on mechanical properties.
Findings
- The analysis revealed that CFO has a significant influence on the energy absorption of the bone; i.e., the amount of energy that bones can absorb before yielding or breaking.
- However, CFO was found to be less important in explaining elastic modulus and ultimate stress, implying that other characteristics might play a more dominant role in these areas.
- There were several exceptions, including a lack of highly longitudinal collagen in dorsal-lateral tension regions, which contradicted the general hypothesis. These exceptions were suspected to be due to differing habitual strain distributions in different bones.
Conclusion
- This in-depth analysis provides important insights about the role and significance of CFO and histocompositional heterogeneity in equine bone strength and mechanical properties, such as energy absorption.
- This information might be useful in further studies related to the enhancement of bone health and strength, and could also contain implications for human osteology.
Cite This Article
APA
Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Sybrowsky CL, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN.
(2006).
The influence of collagen fiber orientation and other histocompositional characteristics on the mechanical properties of equine cortical bone.
J Exp Biol, 209(Pt 15), 3025-3042.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02304 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Utah Bone and Joint Center, 5323 S. Woodrow Street #202, Salt Lake City, UT 84107, USA. jskedros@utahboneandjoint.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Collagen / physiology
- Forelimb
- Horses / physiology
Citations
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