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Home / Equine Research Bank / J R Soc Interface / The relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be due...
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface2017; 14(133); 20170261; doi: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0261

The relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be due to the helical fibril arrangement of their fascicles.

Abstract: A nonlinear elastic microstructural model is used to investigate the relationship between structure and function in energy-storing and positional tendons. The model is used to fit mechanical tension test data from the equine common digital extensor tendon (CDET) and superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), which are used as archetypes of positional and energy-storing tendons, respectively. The fibril crimp and fascicle helix angles of the two tendon types are used as fitting parameters in the mathematical model to predict their values. The outer fibril crimp angles were predicted to be 15.1° ± 2.3° in the CDET and 15.8° ± 4.1° in the SDFT, and the average crimp angles were predicted to be 10.0° ± 1.5° in the CDET and 10.5° ± 2.7° in the SDFT. The crimp angles were not found to be statistically significantly different between the two tendon types ( = 0.572). By contrast, the fascicle helix angles were predicted to be 7.9° ± 9.3° in the CDET and 29.1° ± 10.3° in the SDFT and were found to be statistically highly significantly different between the two tendon types ( < 0.001). This supports previous qualitative observations that helical substructures are more likely to be found in energy-storing tendons than in positional tendons and suggests that the relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be directly caused by these helical substructures.
© 2017 The Authors.
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Publication Date: 2017-08-11 PubMed ID: 28794162PubMed Central: PMC5582123DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0261Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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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 highlights the potential role of helical substructures in the compliance of energy-storing tendons, using a nonlinear elastic microstructural model and tension tests from equine tendons.

Study Context and Methodology

  • The research was conducted to understand the relationship between the structure and functionality of different types of tendons, specifically energy-storing and positional tendons. These types of tendons were represented by superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and common digital extensor tendon (CDET) of horses, respectively.
  • The study used a mathematical model known as a ‘nonlinear elastic microstructural model’ to perform this analysis. This model simulates the physical characteristics and performance of these tendons.
  • The model utilised factors such as ‘fibril crimp’ and ‘fascicle helix angles’ from the tendons as fitting parameters to predict their values.

Results and Interpretation

  • Fibril crimp angles in CDET were predicted as 15.1° ± 2.3° and in SDFT as 15.8° ± 4.1°, while average crimp angles were estimated to be 10.0° ± 1.5° in the CDET and 10.5° ± 2.7° in the SDFT.
  • These crimp angles weren’t significantly different in the two types of tendons, indicating that fibril crimp angles may not be the primary structural factor causing differences in tendon function.
  • However, fascicle helix angles were predicted to be significantly different between the two tendon types – with helix angles of 7.9° ± 9.3° in the CDET and 29.1° ± 10.3° in the SDFT.
  • The results suggest that helical substructures are more likely found in energy-storing tendons (SDFT) than positional ones (CDET). The significantly higher helix angle in energy-storing tendons implies a more helical arrangement of their fibers, which may result in higher compliance, or flexibility.

Conclusion

  • The study thus proposes that the higher compliance of energy-storing tendons might be due to the helical arrangement of their fibrils. This supports previous observational studies and advances our understanding of how tendon structure influences its function.

Cite This Article

APA
Shearer T, Thorpe CT, Screen HRC. (2017). The relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be due to the helical fibril arrangement of their fascicles. J R Soc Interface, 14(133), 20170261. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2017.0261

Publication

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
ISSN: 1742-5662
NlmUniqueID: 101217269
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 133
PII: 20170261

Researcher Affiliations

Shearer, Tom
  • School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK tom.shearer@manchester.ac.uk.
Thorpe, Chavaunne T
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.
Screen, Hazel R C
  • Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Forelimb / anatomy & histology
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Horses
  • Models, Biological
  • Tendons / anatomy & histology
  • Tendons / physiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

We have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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