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Variations during ageing in the three-dimensional anatomical arrangement of fascicles within the equine superficial digital flexor tendon.
Abstract: BiTendons are constructed from collagenous fascicles separated by endotenon/interfascicular matrix (IFM). Tendons may be specialised for precision movement or to store energy during locomotion and for the latter the elasticity of the endotenon/IFM is particularly important. The equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is a dedicated energy-storing tendon with a similar function to the human Achilles tendon. Classical anatomical descriptions portray fascicles as longitudinally arranged distinct anatomical structures. In the present study, using three-dimensional reconstruction from whole tissue slices and histological sections, the fascicles of the equine SDFT were found to adopt a complex interweaved arrangement. Fascicles were found to fully and partially converge and diverge within the tendon and fascicle bundles were observed. Fascicle morphology was not homogenous with narrowing, broadening and twisted fascicles observed in addition to relatively straight fascicles. The number of fascicle bundles observed in cross-section increased from the proximal to the distal end of the tendon, whilst the number of fascicles decreased with age in the proximal region. Fascicular patterns were not similar between the left and right limbs, across different regions or at different ages. A decrease in thickness of the endotenon/IFM between fascicles with age was found in the distal tendon region. The results provide a rationale for considering fascicular organisation when diagnosing and treating tendon injuries, for bioengineering tendon and when modelling tendon function.
Publication Date: 2018-02-13 PubMed ID: 29437201DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v035a07Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Age Factors
- Anatomy
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Injury
- Morphology
- Musculoskeletal System
- Physiology
- Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon
- Tendons
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
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 article provides an in-depth examination of the complexity of the three-dimensional structure of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), observing changes with age and implications for tendon injury treatment and diagnosis.
Research Methodology
- The research employed various methods to study the structure of the equine SDFT. These methods included three-dimensional reconstruction from whole tissue slices and histological sections. These techniques enabled the researchers to discern the complexity of fascicle arrangement within the tendon.
Fascicle Arrangement
- Contrary to traditional anatomical representations, the fascicles were found to have a complex interweaved arrangement, diverging and converging within the tendon. The researchers alert that fascicles are not always straight, but can also be narrow, broad, or twisted.
- Additionally, the paper notes that fascicle bundles were observed, and the number of these bundles increased from the proximal to the distal end of the tendon.
- Notably, the pattern of fascicles differed between left and right limbs, between different regions of the tendon, and across different ages, indicating a significant level of individual variation.
Fascicle Ageing Changes
- The research revealed that as the horse ages, the number of fascicles decreases in the proximal region of the tendon.
- In addition, with age, a decrease in the thickness of the endotenon/interfascicular matrix (IFM) between fascicles was discovered in the distal region of the tendon. The role of the endotenon/IFM is crucial to energy-storing tendons like the SDFT as they contribute to their elasticity.
Implications of the Study
- The findings of these structures changing with age and their complex arrangement provide insights for diagnosing and treating tendon injuries better.
- In the field of bioengineering, these observations may guide the development of more effective tendon models.
- Similarly, it could inform how the function of tendons is represented in biomechanical models, which can, in turn, influence orthopedic research, sports science, and veterinary medicine.
Cite This Article
APA
Ali OJ, Comerford EJ, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG.
(2018).
Variations during ageing in the three-dimensional anatomical arrangement of fascicles within the equine superficial digital flexor tendon.
Eur Cell Mater, 35, 87-102.
https://doi.org/10.22203/eCM.v035a07 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.elizabeth.laird@liverpool.ac.uk.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Body Patterning
- Embryonic Development
- Fetus / anatomy & histology
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / physiology
- Imaging, Three-Dimensional
- Tendons / anatomy & histology
- Tendons / embryology
Grant Funding
- MR/P020941/1 / Medical Research Council
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Fjordbakk CT, Marques-Smith P. The equine patellar ligaments and the infrapatellar fat pad - a microanatomical study. BMC Vet Res 2023 Jan 23;19(1):20.
- Siadat SM, Zamboulis DE, Thorpe CT, Ruberti JW, Connizzo BK. Tendon Extracellular Matrix Assembly, Maintenance and Dysregulation Throughout Life. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021;1348:45-103.
- Zhang S, Ju W, Chen X, Zhao Y, Feng L, Yin Z, Chen X. Hierarchical ultrastructure: An overview of what is known about tendons and future perspective for tendon engineering. Bioact Mater 2022 Feb;8:124-139.
- Godinho MS, Thorpe CT, Greenwald SE, Screen HRC. Elastase treatment of tendon specifically impacts the mechanical properties of the interfascicular matrix. Acta Biomater 2021 Mar 15;123:187-196.
- Marr N, Hopkinson M, Hibbert AP, Pitsillides AA, Thorpe CT. Bimodal Whole-Mount Imaging of Tendon Using Confocal Microscopy and X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography. Biol Proced Online 2020;22:13.
- Nichols AEC, Best KT, Loiselle AE. The cellular basis of fibrotic tendon healing: challenges and opportunities. Transl Res 2019 Jul;209:156-168.
- Lee AH, Elliott DM. Comparative multi-scale hierarchical structure of the tail, plantaris, and Achilles tendons in the rat. J Anat 2019 Feb;234(2):252-262.
- Williamson K, Lee KJ, Beamish EL, Carter A, Gumbs JA, Cooper G, O'Heneghan-Yates NS, Menezes LA, Cheung G, Brown D, Pettitt R, Geraghty B, Bosworth LA, Comerford EJ, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG. Active synthesis of type I collagen homotrimer in Dupuytren's fibrosis is unaffected by anti-TNF-α treatment. JCI Insight 2025 May 8;10(9).
- Shearer T, Thorpe CT, Screen HRC. The relative compliance of energy-storing tendons may be due to the helical fibril arrangement of their fascicles. J R Soc Interface 2017 Aug;14(133).
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