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Automatic Laser-based Geometry Capture for Finite Element Analysis of Weld Beads

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Testing hypotheses for the function of the carnivoran baculum using finite-element analysis.

Charlotte A Brassey¹, James D Gardiner², Andrew C Kitchener³

¹School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK c.brassey@mmu.ac.uk.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|September 21, 2018

Summary

The baculum, or os penis, is a diverse bone in mammals. Its shape may have evolved to prolong copulation and protect the urethra, rather than increase robustness for intromission.

Keywords:

baculum biomechanics copulation finite-element analysis genitalia intromission

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Area of Science:

Comparative anatomy
Biomechanics
Evolutionary biology

Background:

The baculum (os penis) is a highly diverse mammalian bone.
Sexual selection is implicated in baculum evolution, but functional mechanisms are unclear.
Previous studies overlooked baculum shape complexity, focusing on simple metrics.

Purpose of the Study:

To computationally simulate the 3D biomechanical performance of carnivoran bacula.
To test hypotheses regarding the functional evolution of the baculum.

Main Methods:

Finite-element analysis (FEA) applied to 74 carnivoran bacula.
High-resolution micro-computed tomography scans used for detailed shape analysis.
Simulations tested stress under compressive loading and dorsoventral bending.

Main Results:

A positive correlation between sexual size dimorphism and baculum stress under compression was marginally significant.
A significant negative relationship was found between intromission duration and baculum stress under bending.
Ventral grooves were shown to reduce urethral deformation in simulations.

Conclusions:

Findings support the 'prolonged intromission' hypothesis over the 'vaginal friction' hypothesis.
Carnivoran baculum evolution may be driven by the need to extend copulation duration.
The baculum's morphology likely aids in protecting the urethra during prolonged copulation.