Ontogenetic changes to metacarpal trabecular bone structure in mountain and western lowland gorillas.

ABSTRACT: The trabecular bone morphology of adult extant primates has been shown to reflect mechanical loading related to locomotion. However, ontogenetic studies of humans and other mammals suggest an adaptive lag between trabecular bone response and current mechanical loading patterns that could result in adult trabecular bone morphology reflecting juvenile behaviours. This study investigates ontogenetic changes in the trabecular bone structure of the third metacarpal of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei; n = 26) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla; n = 26) and its relationship to expected changes in locomotor loading patterns. Results show that trabecular bone reflects predicted mechanical loading throughout ontogeny. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness and tra

SUBMITTER: Deckers K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9178373 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature