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Compressive Biomechanics of the Reptilian Intervertebral Joint

Authors

  • Kadi Fauble Email Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA.
  • James Adams Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA.
  • Maura Gerdes Department of Internal Medicine, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA.
  • Caroline Vansickle Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA.
  • Bruce A. Young Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, USA.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jzr.v2i4.2259
Received: 5 August 2020 | Published Online: 14 September 2020

Abstract

This study compared the pre-sacral intervertebral joints of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) with those from specimens
of Varanus. These two taxa were chosen because they have similar
number of pre-sacral vertebrae and similar body weights; however,
Varanus can move bipedally and has diarthrotic intervertebral joints,
whereas Alligator has intervertebral discs and cannot move bipedally.
This study consisted of three objectives: (1) to document the anatomy
of the intervertebral joint, (2) to quantify the compressive biomechanics
of the intervertebral joints and explore which features contributed to
compression resistance, and (3) to quantify the impact of compression
on the intervertebral foramen and spinal nerves in these two taxa. The
experimental results revealed that the diarthrotic intervertebral joints
of Varanus were significantly (4x) stiffer than the intervertebral disc of
Alligator, and that a significant component of this increased stiffness
arose from the facet joints. Compressing the intervertebral joints of the
two taxa caused a reduction in foraminal area, but the magnitude of this
reduction was not significantly different. We hypothesize that the main
factor preventing spinal nerve impingement in Varanus during gravitational compression is the relatively small size of the spinal ganglion/
nerve relative to the foraminal area.

Keywords:

Stress, Displacement, Intervertebral joint, Varanus, Alligator, Articular facet, Bipedalism

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2020 Vol.2 No.4

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Copyright © 2020 Kadi Fauble, James Adams, Maura Gerdes, Caroline Vansickle, Bruce A. Young

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