|
|
|
|||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 103, Issue 1 131-154, Copyright © 1983 by Company of Biologists
JOURNAL ARTICLES |
AA Biewener
Peak stresses acting in limb bones should increase with increasing size if the forces acting on the bones increase in direct proportion to the animal's body weight. This is a direct consequence of the scaling of limb bone geometry over a wide range in size in mammals. In addition, recent work has shown that the material strength of bone is similar in large and small animals. If the assumptions in this analysis are correct, large animals would have a lower safety factor to failure than small animals. The purpose of this study was to measure peak stresses acting in the limb bones of small animals during locomotion and compare the results with similar measurements available for larger animals. Locomotory stresses acting in the fore and hindlimb bones of two rodents, the ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) and chipmunk (Tamais striatus), were calculated using ground force recordings and measurements of limb position taken from high speed x-ray cine films. Peak (compressive) stresses calculated to act in the bones of these animals (-31 to -86 MN/m2) are similar in magnitude to those determined for much larger mammals. The more proximal bones of the fore and hindlimb, the humerus and femur, were found to develop stresses (-31 to -42 MN/m2) significantly lower than those acting in the more distal bones of each limb: the radius, ulna and tibia (-58 to -86 MN/m2). All of the long bones from both species, except their femora, were found to be loaded principally in bending. The caudal cortices of each bone developed a peak compressive stress, whereas the cranial cortices were loaded in tension. Various features of the musculo-skeletal organization and manner of locomotion of these rodents are considered to explain how animals of different size maintain a uniform safety factor to failure.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. T. Butcher, N. R. Espinoza, S. R. Cirilo, and R. W. Blob In vivo strains in the femur of river cooter turtles (Pseudemys concinna) during terrestrial locomotion: tests of force-platform models of loading mechanics J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2008; 211(15): 2397 - 2407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. E. Dewey, D. Rosenthal, D. J. Murphy Jr, V. F. Froelicher, and E. A. Ashley Does Size Matter?: Clinical Applications of Scaling Cardiac Size and Function for Body Size Circulation, April 29, 2008; 117(17): 2279 - 2287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. T. Butcher and R. W. Blob Mechanics of limb bone loading during terrestrial locomotion in river cooter turtles (Pseudemys concinna) J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2008; 211(8): 1187 - 1202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. M. Day and B. C. Jayne Interspecific scaling of the morphology and posture of the limbs during the locomotion of cats (Felidae) J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2007; 210(4): 642 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Schmidt Hind limb proportions and kinematics: are small primates different from other small mammals? J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2005; 208(17): 3367 - 3383. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. R. Lammers and A. R. Biknevicius The biodynamics of arboreal locomotion: the effects of substrate diameter on locomotor kinetics in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2004; 207(24): 4325 - 4336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. J. M. Garcia and J. K. L. da Silva On the scaling of mammalian long bones J. Exp. Biol., April 1, 2004; 207(9): 1577 - 1584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. W. Bundle and K. P. Dial Mechanics of wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2003; 206(24): 4553 - 4564. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. J. Parchman, S. M. Reilly, and A. R. Biknevicius Whole-body mechanics and gaits in the gray short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica: integrating patterns of locomotion in a semi-erect mammal J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2003; 206(8): 1379 - 1388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Romano, M. Chinali, F. Pasanisi, R. Greco, A. Celentano, A. Rocco, V. Palmieri, A. Signorini, F. Contaldo, and G. de Simone Reduced hemodynamic load and cardiac hypotrophy in patients with anorexia nervosa Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2003; 77(2): 308 - 312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Iriarte-Diaz Differential scaling of locomotor performance in small and large terrestrial mammals J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2002; 205(18): 2897 - 2908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. de Simone, F. Pasanisi, and F. Contaldo Link of Nonhemodynamic Factors to Hemodynamic Determinants of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Hypertension, July 1, 2001; 38(1): 13 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Evolution of hindlimb posture in nonmammalian therapsids: biomechanical tests of paleontological hypotheses Paleobiology, March 1, 2001; 27(1): 14 - 38. |
||||
![]() |
R. Blob and A. Biewener Mechanics of limb bone loading during terrestrial locomotion in the green iguana (Iguana iguana) and American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) J. Exp. Biol., January 3, 2001; 204(6): 1099 - 1122. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. P. O'Connor and J. Diamond Ontogeny of intestinal safety factors: lactase capacities and lactose loads Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 1999; 276(3): R753 - R765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Blob and A. Biewener In vivo locomotor strain in the hindlimb bones of alligator mississippiensis and iguana iguana: implications for the evolution of limb bone safety factor and non-sprawling limb posture J. Exp. Biol., January 5, 1999; 202(9): 1023 - 1046. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Biewener Scaling body support in mammals: limb posture and muscle mechanics Science, July 7, 1989; 245(4913): 45 - 48. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||