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Trabecular bone ontogeny of the human talus
Rebecca A G Reid1, Catriona Davies1, Craig Cunningham1
1Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|September 15, 2025
Summary
Trabecular bone development in the juvenile talus is influenced by genetics in early life and biomechanics after 1 year of age. Significant changes occur between 1-8 years, adapting to bipedal gait and growth.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Biology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Understanding juvenile bone development is crucial for identifying factors influencing healthy skeletal growth.
- While juvenile skeletal responses are increasingly understood, knowledge gaps persist regarding specific bone adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify ontogenetic trabecular patterns and regional changes in the juvenile talus.
- To gain insight into how the talus adapts to evolving biomechanical influences during development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 36 tali from the Scheuer Juvenile Collection (28 intrauterine weeks to 14 postnatal years).
- Utilized micro-computed tomography for detailed bone structure examination.
- Applied volume of interest and whole bone mapping for trabecular bone analysis.
Main Results:
- Trabecular development followed known patterns, initially influenced by ossification and vascularization.
- Post-1-year-old tali showed adaptation to bipedal gait, with maturation until 8 years.
- After 8 years, increases in trabecular thickness and bone volume fraction were observed, alongside continued regional changes.
Conclusions:
- Early fetal, perinatal, and infant talar structure is likely genetically determined.
- The talus adapts to biomechanical forces, particularly bipedal gait, from approximately 1 year of age.
- Continued maturation of the talus, including the posterior subtalar facet, occurs after 8 years, reflecting ongoing gait development.
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