Passive Dynamics of the Head, Neck and Forelimb in Equine Foetuses-An Observational Study.

Passive dynamics is an aspect of locomotion which is entirely dependent on the mechanical configuration and linkages of adjacent body segments. Tension distribution along mechanical linkages enables the execution of movement patterns with reduced need for complex neurological pathways and may play a role in reestablishing postural stability following external disturbances. Here we demonstrate a uni-directional mechanical relationship between the equine forelimb, head and neck, which may have implications for balance and forelimb loading in the horse.

Variation in palmaromedial articulations of carpometacarpal joints in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses.

Background: Carpal conformation is an important factor in relation to joint soundness. The equine carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) was reported to have variations in its three palmaromedial articulations. Lacking one or more of these articulations has not been radiographically evaluated in Thoroughbred (TB) and Standardbred (SB) racehorses.

The influence of equine hoof conformation on the initiation and progression of laminitis.

Background: The health and performance of horses are significantly affected by diseases associated with the hoof. Laminitis is a critical hoof disease that causes pain and, potentially, severe hoof and bone pathology.

Objective: To generate an equine hoof finite element (FE) model to investigate the impact of normal and toe-in hoof conformations on the degeneration (decrease in elastic modulus) of the laminar junction (LJ), as occurs in chronic laminitis.

An Investigation Into Different Measurement Techniques to Assess Equine Proximal Hoof Circumference.

Equine hoof conformation is integral to equine performance and soundness. Consequently, it is a major area of interest within the field of equine health. Researchers have measured several hoof shape parameters to study the hoof conformation.

How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Is Assisting Us to Extract Meaning from Data on Bone Mechanics?

Dramatic advancements in interdisciplinary research with the fourth paradigm of science, especially the implementation of computer science, nourish the potential for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms to be applied to studies concerning mechanics of bones. Despite recent enormous advancement in techniques, gaining deep knowledge to find correlations between bone shape, material, mechanical, and physical responses as well as properties is a daunting task. This is due to both complexity of the material itself and the convoluted shapes that this complex material forms.

Feedforward backpropagation artificial neural networks for predicting mechanical responses in complex nonlinear structures: A study on a long bone.

Feedforward backpropagation artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been increasingly employed in many engineering practices concerning materials modeling. Despite their extensive applications, how to achieve successfully trained ANNs is not thoroughly explained in the literature, nor are there lucid discussions to delineate influential parameters obtained from analyses. Long bones are composite materials possessing nonhomogeneous and anisotropic properties, and their mechanical responses exhibit dependency on numerous variables.

Observations of different types of sacra in Greyhounds based on the occurrence of sacrocaudal fusion.

Little attention has been paid to the normal fusion of the vertebrae of greyhounds despite the common occurrence of sacrocaudal fusion. The current study aimed to investigate and provide data on the morphology of different types of fused sacra (B, C and D) in greyhounds and also to determine the potential association between the sex, body mass and morphology of fused sacra (S. Weight, S.

Morphometrics of nuchal ligament in greyhound in different neck and body positions.

This study was conducted to describe the morphometrics of nuchal ligament and investigate the effects of different neck and body positions on the nuchal ligament in greyhounds. Nine adult greyhounds cadavers without any locomotion abnormalities were dissected through the neck musculature on the left side to expose the nuchal ligament. Three pins were placed to mark regions of interest on the nuchal ligament: at one cm cranial to the site of origin (the most dorsal point of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra), at the midpoint of the nuchal ligament and one cm caudal to the nuchal ligament site of insertion (close to the caudal aspect of the spinous process of the axis).

The influence of equine limb conformation on the biomechanical responses of the hoof: An in vivo and finite element study.

Hoof conformation plays a key role in equine locomotion. Toe-in conformation is an abnormal condition characterized by inward deviation of the limb from its frontal axis. Several studies have documented differences in hoof deformation and hoof kinematics in horses with toe-in and normal hoof conformations.

What can artificial intelligence and machine learning tell us? A review of applications to equine biomechanical research.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are fascinating interdisciplinary scientific domains where machines are provided with an approximation of human intelligence. The conjecture is that machines are able to learn from existing examples, and employ this accumulated knowledge to fulfil challenging tasks such as regression analysis, pattern classification, and prediction. The horse biomechanical models have been identified as an alternative tool to investigate the effects of mechanical loading and induced deformations on the tissues and structures in humans.

Structural anatomy and morphometric analyses of sacra in greyhounds.

This study was conducted to provide structural and morphological data on the sacra of greyhounds. Descriptive quantitative investigation was carried out on 171 sacra of greyhound`s cadavers and then classified into standard and fused sacra based on the number of fused sacral vertebrae. The weight, length and width of sacrum of sacra were measured.

Variation in the seventh lumbar vertebra and the lumbosacral junction morphometry associated with the sacrocaudal fusion in greyhounds.

The lumbosacral joint is where the 7th lumbar vertebra (L.7) articulates within the sacrum. It is a clinically important area in the dog because of its relatively large range of motion.

Radiographic assessment of carpal conformation in the horse, part 2: Finding acceptable limits to postural and rotational variations during radiography.

Finding an appropriate location for perpendicular positioning of the X-ray machine to produce zero lateromedial (ZLM) and zero dorsopalmar (ZDP) carpal images (views) and finding an acceptable range of rotational variations for measurement of carpal conformational parameters were two major challenges identified during field radiography of equine forelimbs. 16 cadaver forelimbs transacted at antebrachial midshaft from 10 horses (aged 9.13 ± 4.

Radiographic assessment of carpal conformation in the horse: Technique development and validation of the consistency of measurements.

Carpal conformation is often considered as a contributory factor to performance and lameness in the horse; however, few attempts have been made to objectively measure radiographic variations of carpal conformation in horses due to insufficient measurable carpal parameters. This pilot study used carpal radiographic images acquired from 10 cadaveric equine forelimbs transected at the antebrachial midshaft from 7 adult horses (7.2 ± 2.

Morphometric analysis of the intercarpal ligaments of the equine proximal carpal bones during simulated flexion and extension of cadaver limbs.

Despite many reported cases of carpal lameness associated with intercarpal ligament injuries in horses, the morphometry, movement pattern and general intrinsic biomechanics of the carpus are largely unknown. Using osteoligamentous preparation of the carpus prepared from 14 equine cadaver forelimbs (aged 9.62 ± 4.

Prediction of load in a long bone using an artificial neural network prediction algorithm.

The hierarchical nature of bone makes it a difficult material to fully comprehend. The equine third metacarpal (MC3) bone experiences nonuniform surface strains, which are a measure of displacement induced by loads. This paper investigates the use of an artificial neural network expert system to quantify MC3 bone loading.

Changes in Hoof Shape During a Seven-Week Period When Horses Were Shod Versus Barefoot.

This crossover study tested the hypothesis that hoof shape would differ after a seven-week period of horses ( = 11) wearing shoes versus barefoot. An ANOVA appropriate to a crossover design was used to assess the differences in the change in hoof shape over the seven-week period and significance was set at < 0.05.

Accuracy Quantification of the Reverse Engineering and High-Order Finite Element Analysis of Equine MC3 Forelimb.

Shape is a key factor in influencing mechanical responses of bones. Considered to be smart viscoelastic and inhomogeneous materials, bones are stimulated to change shape (model and remodel) when they experience changes in the compressive strain distribution. Using reverse engineering techniques via computer-aided design (CAD) is crucial to create a virtual environment to investigate the significance of shape in biomechanical engineering.

Characterisation of ovine lymphatic vessels in fresh specimens.

Background And Aim: The development and use of experimental models using lymphatic cannulation techniques have been hampered by the lack of high-quality colour imaging of lymphatic vessels in situ. Most descriptions of lymphatic anatomy in sheep have historically depended on schematic diagrams due to limitations in the ability to publish colour images of the lymphatic vessels with decent resolution. The aim of this work was to encourage more widespread use of the ovine cannulation model by providing clear photographic images identifying the location and anatomical layout of some major lymphatic ducts and their in situ relationship to surrounding tissues.

Lymphatic cannulation models in sheep: Recent advances for immunological and biomedical research.

Lymphatic cannulation models are useful tools for studying the immunobiology of the lymphatic system and the immunopathology of specific tissues in diseases. Sheep cannulations have been used extensively, as models for human physiology, fetal and neonatal development, human diseases, and for studies of ruminant pathobiology. The development of new and improved cannulation techniques in recent years has meant that difficult to access sites, such as mucosal associated tissues, are now more readily available to researchers.

Investigating canine elbow joint stabilisation through mechanical constraints of the deep fascia and other soft tissues.

The objective of this research was to investigate how the range of flexion and extension of the canine elbow joint is constrained by the mechanical connections and attachments of soft tissue structures. The skin, a section of deep fascia and several muscles from both forelimbs from six adult greyhounds and seven other breeds were sequentially transected or removed, over 13 steps. During each step, repeated measurements of elbow flexion and extension were recorded using a goniometer.

Techniques for thoracic duct cannulation without thoracotomy in piglets.

Background: Pigs are the natural hosts of many zoonotic pathogens such as influenza viruses and Staphylococcus aureus and thus have advantages over non-natural hosts when studying these zoonotic diseases. In addition, pulmonary infections are a key issue in the pig industry, for example: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection. Exploration of the pathogenesis of swine pulmonary infections, in particular at the onset of disease, will provide valuable information for the development of vaccines against these diseases.

Observations of sacrocaudal fusion in Greyhounds and other dogs.

Objectives: To describe the incidence and forms of nonpathological sacrocaudal fusion in racing Greyhounds and compare them with those in a variety of other domestic dog breeds.

Methods: This retrospective observational study used archived anatomical specimens from 81 racing Greyhounds and 10 Beagles, and archived clinical radiographs from 81 non-Greyhound dogs representing 37 other breeds. Dogs less than two years of age and dogs with evidence of soft tissue or osseous pathology involving the sacrocaudal region were excluded.