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Martens LL, Piersanti SJ, Berger A, Kida NA, Deutsch AR, Bertok K, Humphries L, Lassiter A, Hartstone-Rose A. The Effects of Onychectomy (Declawing) on Antebrachial Myology across the Full Body Size Range of Exotic Species of Felidae. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2462. [PMID: 37570271 PMCID: PMC10416871 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
While people are familiar with the practice of declawing domestic cats, "onychectomy", as it is also known, is also performed on non-domesticated species, including pantherines, to prolong their use for entertainment purposes. Although the surgery (the partial or complete removal of the distal phalanx) has clear osteological implications, its myological effects have never been studied. As the mass of an animal increases cubically as a product of its volume, while the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger felids have higher foot pressures and, therefore, the surgery may have particularly substantial functional effects on larger cats. In this study, we evaluate the forearms of clawed and declawed non-domestic felid specimens that spanned the body size range of the whole family to evaluate the effects of onychectomy on muscle fiber architecture. We found that the deep digital flexors (the muscles most directly affected by onychectomy) of declawed felids are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46-66%) than those of non-declawed felids, while other muscles do not make up for these reductions. Thus, onychectomy has a substantial effect on the myological capabilities of cats, and because these deficiencies are not compensated for in biomechanically disadvantaged larger felids, it probably has even more functionally devastating consequences for these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara L. Martens
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
| | - Sarah Jessica Piersanti
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Arin Berger
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
| | - Nicole A. Kida
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
| | - Ashley R. Deutsch
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
| | - Kathryn Bertok
- Carolina Tiger Rescue, Pittsboro, NC 27312, USA; (K.B.); (L.H.); (A.L.)
| | - Lauren Humphries
- Carolina Tiger Rescue, Pittsboro, NC 27312, USA; (K.B.); (L.H.); (A.L.)
| | - Angela Lassiter
- Carolina Tiger Rescue, Pittsboro, NC 27312, USA; (K.B.); (L.H.); (A.L.)
| | - Adam Hartstone-Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.L.M.); (S.J.P.); (A.B.); (N.A.K.); (A.R.D.)
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Abstract
When animals walk overground, mechanical stimuli activate various receptors located in muscles, joints, and skin. Afferents from these mechanoreceptors project to neuronal networks controlling locomotion in the spinal cord and brain. The dynamic interactions between the control systems at different levels of the neuraxis ensure that locomotion adjusts to its environment and meets task demands. In this article, we describe and discuss the essential contribution of somatosensory feedback to locomotion. We start with a discussion of how biomechanical properties of the body affect somatosensory feedback. We follow with the different types of mechanoreceptors and somatosensory afferents and their activity during locomotion. We then describe central projections to locomotor networks and the modulation of somatosensory feedback during locomotion and its mechanisms. We then discuss experimental approaches and animal models used to investigate the control of locomotion by somatosensory feedback before providing an overview of the different functional roles of somatosensory feedback for locomotion. Lastly, we briefly describe the role of somatosensory feedback in the recovery of locomotion after neurological injury. We highlight the fact that somatosensory feedback is an essential component of a highly integrated system for locomotor control. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1-71, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Frigon
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Turgay Akay
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Boris I Prilutsky
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Wang M, Song Y, Baker JS, Fekete G, Ugbolue UC, Li S, Gu Y. The biomechanical characteristics of a feline distal forelimb: A finite element analysis study. Comput Biol Med 2020; 129:104174. [PMID: 33338893 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.104174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As a typical digitigrade mammal, the uniquely designed small distal limbs of the feline support two to three times of its body weight during daily movements. To understand how force transmission occurs in relation to the distal joint in a feline limb, which transfers bodyweight to the ground, it is necessary to examine the internal stress distribution of the distal joint limb in detail. Therefore, finite element models (FEM) of a healthy feline were established to predict the internal stress distribution of the distal limb. The FEM model included 23 bony components, various cartilaginous ligaments, as well as the encapsulated soft tissue of the paw. The FEM model was validated by comparison of paw pressure distribution, obtained from an experiment for balance standing. The results demonstrated a good agreement between the experimentally measured and numerically predicted pressure distribution in the feline paw. Additionally, higher stress levels were noted in the metacarpal segment, with smaller stresses observed in the phalanges portion including the proximal, middle, and distal segments. The raised metacarpal segment plays an important role in creating a stiff junction between the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and wrist joint, stabilizing the distal limb. The paw pads help to optimize stress distribution in phalanx region. Findings from this study contribute to our understanding of feline distal forelimb biomechanical behavior. This information can be applied to bionic design of footwear since an optimal stiff junction and pressure distribution can be adapted to enhance injury relief and sports activities. Further developments may include progress, evaluation, and treatment of metatarsophalangeal joint injuries in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meizi Wang
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China; Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Yang Song
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Julien S Baker
- Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Gusztáv Fekete
- Savaria Institute of Technology, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Ukadike Chris Ugbolue
- Division of Sport and Exercise, School of Health and Life Sciences, West of Scotland University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, Scotland, G72 0LH, UK
| | - Shudong Li
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yaodong Gu
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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Contributions of Limb Joints to Energy Absorption during Landing in Cats. Appl Bionics Biomech 2019; 2019:3815612. [PMID: 31531125 PMCID: PMC6721424 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3815612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a high risk of serious injury to the lower limbs in a human drop landing. However, cats are able to jump from the same heights without any sign of injury, which is attributed to the excellent performance of their limbs in attenuating the impact forces. The bionic study of the falling cat landing may therefore contribute to improve the landing-shock absorbing ability of lower limbs in humans. However, the contributions of cat limb joints to energy absorption remain unknown. Accordingly, a motion capture system and plantar pressure measurement platform were used to measure the joint angles and vertical ground reaction forces of jumping cats, respectively. Based on the inverse dynamics, the joint angular velocities, moments, powers, and work from different landing heights were calculated to expound the synergistic mechanism and the dominant muscle groups of cat limb joints. The results show that the buffering durations of the forelimbs exhibit no significant difference with increasing height while the hindlimbs play a greater role than the forelimbs in absorbing energy when jumping from a higher platform. Furthermore, the joint angles and angular velocities exhibit similar variations, indicating that a generalized motor program can be adopted to activate limb joints for different landing heights. Additionally, the elbow and hip are recognized as major contributors to energy absorption during landing. This experimental study can accordingly provide biological inspiration for new approaches to prevent human lower limb injuries.
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Nichols TR, Bunderson NE, Lyle MA. Neural Regulation of Limb Mechanics: Insights from the Organization of Proprioceptive Circuits. NEUROMECHANICAL MODELING OF POSTURE AND LOCOMOTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3267-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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