Morphometric analysis of the human tibial nerve and the ageing process.
We analysed numbers and sizes of the human tibial nerve branch innervating the soleus muscle. The material was taken from 13 cadavers aged from 67 to 98 years. A linear regression analysis disclosed a significant age-related decrease in the mean number per unit area and the mean transverse area of axons. Such decreases with age may indicate atrophy and loss of motoneurons. Our results could help in understanding the correlation between morphology and function during the ageing process.
Tani
H
H
Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 5-8, Hatanodai 1, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
Goto
N
N
Goto
J
J
Lu
S
S
Ma
X
X
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*