Exploring the functional morphology of the Gorilla shoulder through musculoskeletal modelling.

ABSTRACT: Musculoskeletal computer models allow us to quantitatively relate morphological features to biomechanical performance. In non-human apes, certain morphological features have long been linked to greater arm abduction potential and increased arm-raising performance, compared to humans. Here, we present the first musculoskeletal model of a western lowland gorilla shoulder to test some of these long-standing proposals. Estimates of moment arms and moments of the glenohumeral abductors (deltoid, supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles) over arm abduction were conducted for the gorilla model and a previously published human shoulder model. Contrary to previous assumptions, we found that overall glenohumeral abduction potential is similar between Gorilla and Homo. However, gorillas differ by main

SUBMITTER: van Beesel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8197971 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature