Allometry of the Tendon Enthesis: Mechanisms of Load Transfer Between Tendon and Bone.
Several features of the tendon-to-bone attachment were examined allometrically to determine load transfer mechanisms. The humeral head diameter increased geometrically with animal mass. Area of the attachment site exhibited a near isometric increase with muscle physiological cross section. In contrast, the interfacial roughness as well as the mineral gradient width demonstrated a hypoallometric relationship with physiologic cross-sectional area (PCSA). The isometric increase in attachment area indicates that as muscle forces increase, the attachment area increases accordingly, thus maintaining a constant interfacial stress. Due to the presence of constant stresses at the attachment, the micrometer-scale features may not need to vary with increasing load.
Alix C
AC
Deymier-Black
Jill D
JD
Pasteris
Guy M
GM
Genin
Stavros
S
Thomopoulos
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D058430:Humeral Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing