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The developing juvenile distal tibia: Radiographic identification of distinct ontogenetic phases and structural
Rebecca A G Reid1, Catriona Davies1, Craig Cunningham1
1Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Journal of Anatomy
|October 11, 2022
Summary
The developing human tibia shows distinct phases of internal organization, influenced by ossification and biomechanical forces. Early development lacks structure, followed by regression and then refinement into adult bone patterns.
Area of Science:
- Human skeletal development
- Bone biology
- Biomechanical analysis
Background:
- Previous studies noted rudimentary bone organization in mature skeletal elements.
- The early internal structure of the distal tibia during development remains largely undocumented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate undocumented changes in distal tibia internal organization during development.
- To determine if these developmental changes can be classified into distinct phases.
- To correlate observed changes with ossification and biomechanical influences.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel combination of radiographic colour gradient mapping and radiographic absorptiometry.
- Examined 96 human distal tibiae from 54 individuals (foetal to 23 years).
Main Results:
- Perinatal tibiae lacked rudimentary structural patterns seen in late adolescence.
- A regression phase (birth to 2 years) showed decreased radiodensity, possibly due to growth and calcium demands.
- Post-2 years, distal tibiae refined into adult trabecular organization, influenced by bipedal gait forces.
Conclusions:
- The distal tibia's development is not a simple scaling of mature patterns but involves distinct phases.
- Ossification processes and biomechanical forces, particularly from bipedal locomotion, significantly shape distal tibia internal organization.
- The observed regression phase highlights the metabolic demands on the skeleton during early childhood.
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