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Evolution of the biomechanical material properties of the femur

  1. Gregory M. Erickson1,2,†,*,
  2. Joseph Catanese III3,
  3. Tony M. Keaveny3

Article first published online: 14 AUG 2002

DOI: 10.1002/ar.10145

Issue

The Anatomical Record

The Anatomical Record

Volume 268, Issue 2, pages 115–124, October 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Erickson, G. M., Catanese, J. and Keaveny, T. M. (2002), Evolution of the biomechanical material properties of the femur. The Anatomical Record, 268: 115–124. doi: 10.1002/ar.10145

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Integrative Biology, University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California

  2. 2

    Museums of Vertebrate Zoology and Paleontology, University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California

  3. 3

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California

  1. †

    Fax: (850) 644-9829

*Department of Biological Science, Conradi Building, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 AUG 2002
  2. Article first published online: 14 AUG 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 JUN 2002
  4. Manuscript Received: 1 MAR 2001

Funded by

  • University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
  • University of California Museum of Paleontology
  • ARCS Foundation of Northern California
  • Sigma Xi (national and Berkeley chapters)
  • Gompertz Professorship Fund

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Keywords:

  • biomechanics;
  • bone;
  • evolution;
  • material properties;
  • fish;
  • amphibians;
  • reptiles;
  • mammals

Abstract

The biomechanical performance of long bones is dictated by four key factors: element size, element shape, loading conditions, and material properties. Our understanding of the latter of these has been mostly limited to eutherian mammals and birds, which show similarity. Whether their possession of comparable material properties reflects common ancestry or independent evolution is uncertain. In the present analysis, we tested the bending strength, modulus, and failure strains of the femur and its pterygiophore homolog in actinpterygian fish. Sixty-nine specimens representing basal character states in seven major vertebrate crown clades were tested. These data were then coupled with avian and mammalian data from the literature and analyzed in an evolutionary context using phylogenetic character analysis. Mean values of 188 MPa for yield strength, 22.4 GPa for Young's modulus, and 8,437 μ∈ for yield strain were obtained for the long bones. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed comparable values between clades that span a 30,000-fold range of body mass. We conclude that material properties of the first long bones 475 million years ago were conserved throughout evolution. Major locomotory challenges to femora during vertebrate evolution were almost solely accomplished by modifications of element size and shape. Anat Rec 268:115–124, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (164K)