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Journal of Anatomy Jul 2020The plantar aponeurosis in the human foot has been extensively studied and thoroughly described, in part, because of the incidence of plantar fasciitis in humans. It is...
The plantar aponeurosis in the human foot has been extensively studied and thoroughly described, in part, because of the incidence of plantar fasciitis in humans. It is commonly assumed that the human plantar aponeurosis is a unique adaptation to bipedalism that evolved in concert with the longitudinal arch. However, the comparative anatomy of the plantar aponeurosis is poorly known in most mammals, even among non-human primates, hindering efforts to understand its function. Here, we review previous anatomical descriptions of 40 primate species and use phylogenetic comparative methods to reconstruct the evolution of the plantar aponeurosis and its relationship to the plantaris muscle in primates. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that the overall organization of the human plantar aponeurosis is shared with chimpanzees and that a similar anatomical configuration evolved independently in different primate clades as an adaptation to terrestrial locomotion. The presence of a plantar aponeurosis with clearly developed lateral and central bands in the African apes suggests that this structure is not prohibitive to suspensory locomotion and that these species possess versatile feet adapted for both terrestrial and arboreal locomotion. This plantar aponeurosis configuration would have been advantageous in enhancing foot stiffness for bipedal locomotion in the earliest hominins, prior to the evolution of a longitudinal arch. Hominins may have subsequently evolved thicker and stiffer plantar aponeuroses alongside the arch to enable a windlass mechanism and elastic energy storage for bipedal walking and running, although this idea requires further testing.
Topics: Animals; Aponeurosis; Biological Evolution; Foot; Gait; Hominidae; Humans; Locomotion; Phylogeny; Primates; Walking
PubMed: 32103502
DOI: 10.1111/joa.13173 -
Journal of Anatomy Nov 2023Pregnancy and lactation hormones have been shown to mediate anatomical changes to the musculoskeletal system that generates animal movement. In this study, we...
Pregnancy and lactation hormones have been shown to mediate anatomical changes to the musculoskeletal system that generates animal movement. In this study, we characterize changes in the medial gastrocnemius muscle, its tendon and aponeuroses that are likely to have an effect on whole animal movement and energy expenditure, using the rat model system, Rattus norvegicus. We quantified muscle architecture (mass, cross-sectional area, and pennation angle), muscle fiber type and diameter, and Young's modulus of stiffness for the medial gastrocnemius aponeuroses as well as its contribution to Achilles tendon in three groups of three-month-old female rats: virgin, primiparous pregnant, and primiparous lactating animals. We found that muscle mass drops by 23% during lactation but does not change during pregnancy. We also found that during pregnancy muscle fibers switch from Type I to IIa and during lactation from Type IIb to Type I. The stiffness of connective tissues that has a demonstrated role in locomotion, the aponeurosis and tendon, also changed. Pregnant animals had a significantly less stiff aponeurosis. However, tendon stiffness was most affected during lactation, with a significant drop in stiffness and interindividual variation. We propose that the energetic demands of locomotion may have driven the evolution of these anatomical changes in muscle-tendon units during pregnancy and lactation to ensure more energy can be allocated to fetal development and lactation.
Topics: Female; Animals; Rats; Pregnancy; Lactation; Muscle, Skeletal; Achilles Tendon; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; Locomotion
PubMed: 37350269
DOI: 10.1111/joa.13916 -
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA May 2021The extensor pollicis longus (EPL) and brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) are muscles located in the posterior compartment of the forearm. These muscles...
PURPOSE
The extensor pollicis longus (EPL) and brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) are muscles located in the posterior compartment of the forearm. These muscles allow the thumb to move independently from the other four fingers by attaching to the thumb separately. This study's goal was to investigate the tendon variations and insertions of these muscles.
METHODS
Our study was conducted on 43 fetal cadavers (86 upper extremities) aged between 17 and 40 weeks of gestation. This study investigated the tendon numbers and insertions of the EPL, EPB, and APL.
RESULTS
The tendon numbers of the EPL and EPB were observed to range between 1 and 2, and the tendon numbers of the APL ranged between 1 and 5. The EPL was found to insert into the distal phalanx via the dorsal aponeurosis in all extremities. It was observed that the EPB tendons inserted into the proximal phalanx, distal phalanx, and dorsal aponeurosis. It was determined that the APL tendons inserted into the basis of the first metacarpal, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and trapezium bone.
CONCLUSION
Knowing the tendon variations and insertions of the EPL, EPB, and APL muscles during the fetal period will be useful in planning treatments to correct the congenital thumb anomalies and the loss of function after injury.
Topics: Anatomic Variation; Cadaver; Female; Fetus; Forearm; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Tendons; Thumb
PubMed: 33170332
DOI: 10.1007/s00276-020-02611-7 -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... Nov 2023Collagen peptide supplementation has been reported to enhance synthesis rates or growth in a range of musculoskeletal tissues and could enhance tendinous tissue... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Collagen peptide supplementation has been reported to enhance synthesis rates or growth in a range of musculoskeletal tissues and could enhance tendinous tissue adaptations to resistance training (RT). This double-blind placebo-controlled study aimed to determine if tendinous tissue adaptations, size (patellar tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) and vastus lateralis (VL) aponeurosis area), and mechanical properties (patellar tendon), after 15 wk of RT, could be augmented with collagen peptide (CP) versus placebo (PLA) supplementation.
METHODS
Young healthy recreationally active men were randomized to consume either 15 g of CP ( n = 19) or PLA ( n = 20) once every day during a standardized program of lower-body RT (3 times a week). Measurements pre- and post-RT included patellar tendon CSA and VL aponeurosis area (via magnetic resonance imaging), and patellar tendon mechanical properties during isometric knee extension ramp contractions.
RESULTS
No between-group differences were detected for any of the tendinous tissue adaptations to RT (ANOVA group-time, 0.365 ≤ P ≤ 0.877). There were within-group increases in VL aponeurosis area (CP, +10.0%; PLA, +9.4%), patellar tendon stiffness (CP, +17.3%; PLA, +20.9%) and Young's modulus (CP, +17.8%; PLA, +20.6%) in both groups (paired t -tests (all), P ≤ 0.007). There were also within-group decreases in patellar tendon elongation (CP, -10.8%; PLA, -9.6%) and strain (CP, -10.6%; PLA, -8.9%) in both groups (paired t -tests (all), P ≤ 0.006). Although no within-group changes in patellar tendon CSA (mean or regional) occurred for CP or PLA, a modest overall time effect ( n = 39) was observed for mean (+1.4%) and proximal region (+2.4%) patellar tendon CSA (ANOVA, 0.017 ≤ P ≤ 0.048).
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, CP supplementation did not enhance RT-induced tendinous tissue remodeling (either size or mechanical properties) compared with PLA within a population of healthy young men.
Topics: Male; Humans; Resistance Training; Tendons; Patellar Ligament; Collagen; Peptides; Polyesters; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 37436929
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003242 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2022To determine the pathogenesis of trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint instability, which leads to osteoarthritis, we investigated the anatomical relationships among the...
To determine the pathogenesis of trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint instability, which leads to osteoarthritis, we investigated the anatomical relationships among the surrounding ligaments, muscles (first dorsal interosseous [FDI] and opponens pollicis [OPP]), and joint capsule. We examined the bone morphology and cortical bone thickening in 25 cadaveric thumbs using micro-computed tomography and performed macroscopic and histological analyses. The dorsal trapezium had a tubercle with cortical bone thickening, corresponding to the attachment of the FDI aponeurosis intermingled with the joint capsule. Radially, the thin joint capsule was observed to underlie the muscular part of the OPP. Therefore, the dorsal ligaments, which have been previously considered static stabilizers, could be interpreted as parts of the capsuloaponeurotic complex consisting of the FDI aponeurosis and joint capsule. In the radial aspect, muscular OPP activation may be essential for TMC joint stabilization. Our findings may contribute to the appropriate management of TMC osteoarthritis.
Topics: Humans; Osteoarthritis; Osteopetrosis; Thumb; Trapezium Bone; X-Ray Microtomography
PubMed: 36456627
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25355-3 -
Biomechanics and Modeling in... Oct 2021Muscle architecture, which includes parameters like fascicle length, pennation angle, and physiological cross-sectional area, strongly influences skeletal muscles'...
Muscle architecture, which includes parameters like fascicle length, pennation angle, and physiological cross-sectional area, strongly influences skeletal muscles' mechanical properties. During maturation, the muscle architecture has to adapt to a growing organism. This study aimed to develop an architectural model capable of predicting the complete 3D fascicle architecture for primarily unipennate muscles of an arbitrary age, based on fascicle data for an initial age. For model development, we collected novel data on 3D muscle architecture of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) M. plantaris of eight animals ranging in age from 29 to 106 days. Experimental results show that plantaris muscle belly length increases by 73%, whereas mean fascicle length and mean pennation angle increases by 39 and 14%, respectively. Those changes were incorporated into the model. In addition to the data collected for M. plantaris the predictions of the model were compared to existing literature data of rabbit M. soleus and M. gastrocnemius medialis. With an error of -1.0 ± 8.6% for relative differences in aponeurosis length, aponeurosis width, muscle height, and muscle mass, the model delivered good results matching interindividual differences. For future studies, the model could be utilized to generate realistic architectural data sets for simulation studies.
Topics: Animals; Aponeurosis; Biomechanical Phenomena; Body Weight; Computer Simulation; Models, Biological; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Rabbits; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 34302567
DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01492-y -
European Journal of Applied Physiology Jul 2020The aponeurosis, a sheet of fibrous tissue, is the deep and superficial fascia where muscle fibers attach in pennate muscles. It is quite possible that the aponeurosis... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The aponeurosis, a sheet of fibrous tissue, is the deep and superficial fascia where muscle fibers attach in pennate muscles. It is quite possible that the aponeurosis size increases in response to resistance training-induced fiber hypertrophy due to an increase in connection area. As a result, it leads to an increase in anatomical muscle cross-sectional area. However, attention has not been paid to aponeurosis area changes. This review sought to determine whether muscle hypertrophy changes aponeurosis width following short-term resistance training using an equation we modified [post/pre changes in aponeurosis width (AW) = post/pre changes in anatomical cross-sectional area (CSA) ÷ post/pre changes in pennation angle (PA) ÷ post/pre changes in fascicle length (FL)].
METHODS
A search using two electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) was conducted. Nine studies measured CSA, PA, and FL of the vastus lateralis muscle by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.
RESULTS
There was a statistically significant 2.73 [95% CI 1.11, 4.36; p = 0.009] cm increase in CSA along with a statistically significant 1.21° [95% CI 0.44, 1.97; p = 0.002] increase in PA and a statistically significant 0.36 cm [95% CI 0.19, 0.54; p = 0.0002] increase in FL. These results yield an estimated 1% reduction in aponeurosis width.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that while muscle CSA, pennation angle, and fascicle length all increase following short-term resistance training, the aponeurosis width is not altered.
Topics: Aponeurosis; Humans; Hypertrophy; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Quadriceps Muscle; Resistance Training
PubMed: 32468284
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04400-x -
Frontiers in Physiology 2018The effect of different strength training regimes, and in particular training utilizing brief explosive contractions, on tendinous tissue properties is poorly...
The effect of different strength training regimes, and in particular training utilizing brief explosive contractions, on tendinous tissue properties is poorly understood. This study compared the efficacy of 12 weeks of knee extensor explosive-contraction (ECT; = 14) vs. sustained-contraction (SCT; = 15) strength training vs. a non-training control ( = 13) to induce changes in patellar tendon and knee extensor tendon-aponeurosis stiffness and size (patellar tendon, vastus-lateralis aponeurosis, quadriceps femoris muscle) in healthy young men. Training involved 40 isometric knee extension contractions (three times/week): gradually increasing to 75% of maximum voluntary torque (MVT) before holding for 3 s (SCT), or briefly contracting as fast as possible to ∼80% MVT (ECT). Changes in patellar tendon stiffness and Young's modulus, tendon-aponeurosis complex stiffness, as well as quadriceps femoris muscle volume, vastus-lateralis aponeurosis area and patellar tendon cross-sectional area were quantified with ultrasonography, dynamometry, and magnetic resonance imaging. ECT and SCT similarly increased patellar tendon stiffness (20% vs. 16%, both < 0.05 vs. control) and Young's modulus (22% vs. 16%, both < 0.05 vs. control). Tendon-aponeurosis complex high-force stiffness increased only after SCT (21%; < 0.02), while ECT resulted in greater overall elongation of the tendon-aponeurosis complex. Quadriceps muscle volume only increased after sustained-contraction training (8%; = 0.001), with unclear effects of strength training on aponeurosis area. The changes in patellar tendon cross-sectional area after strength training were not appreciably different to control. Our results suggest brief high force muscle contractions can induce increased free tendon stiffness, though SCT is needed to increase tendon-aponeurosis complex stiffness and muscle hypertrophy.
PubMed: 30233387
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01170 -
Operative Orthopadie Und Traumatologie Feb 2020Elimination of pain or instability by arthrodesis of the thumb joint in functional position by dorsal plateosteosynthesis. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Elimination of pain or instability by arthrodesis of the thumb joint in functional position by dorsal plateosteosynthesis.
INDICATIONS
Painful primary or secondary arthrosis of the thumb, nonreconstructable ulnar, radial or palmar instability, posttraumatic dislocation, defect injuries, bone tumors in the region of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Local infection of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint area.
SURGICAL TECHNIQUE
Dorsal approach to the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint, splitting of the extensor aponeurosis between the extensor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendon. Opening of the anterior capsule and separation of the collateral ligaments, open up the joint, narrow concave and convex joint surface resections, adjustment of the arthrodesis position in 10-20° flexion and K‑wire transfixation, dorsal plateosteosynthesis, fine adjustment of the flexion, axis and pronation position. Closure of the capsule and the periosteal gliding tissue over the plate, reconstruction of the extensor aponeurosis.
POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
Splint for 3 weeks. Full load after 6-8 weeks.
RESULTS
The dorsal plate arthrodesis of the thumb MP joint is a reliable surgical method with very good functional results.
Topics: Arthrodesis; Collateral Ligaments; Humans; Metacarpophalangeal Joint; Thumb; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30806716
DOI: 10.1007/s00064-019-0592-x -
Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia 2018The aim of this study was to analyze the anatomic variations of the bicipital aponeurosis (BA) () and its implications for the compression of the median nerve, which is...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the anatomic variations of the bicipital aponeurosis (BA) () and its implications for the compression of the median nerve, which is positioned medially to the brachial artery, passing under the bicipital aponeurosis.
METHODS
Sixty upper limbs of 30 cadavers were dissected, 26 of which were male and four, female; of the total, 15 had been previously preserved in formalin and glycerine and 15 were dissected fresh in the Laboratory of Anatomy.
RESULTS
In 55 limbs, short and long heads of the biceps muscle contributed to the formation of the BA, and the most significant contribution was always from the short head. In three limbs, only the short head contributed to the formation of the BA. In two limbs, the BA was absent. The length of the bicipital aponeurosis from its origin to its insertion ranged from 4.5 to 6.2 cm and its width, from 0.5 to 2.6 cm. In 42 limbs, the BA was thickened; of these, in 27 it was resting directly on the median nerve, and in 17 a high insertion of the humeral head of the pronator teres muscle was found, and the muscle was interposed between the BA and the median nerve.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that a thickened BA may be a potential factor for nerve compression, by narrowing the space through which the median nerve passes.
PubMed: 29367910
DOI: 10.1016/j.rboe.2017.11.014