Structural design and mechanical behavior of alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) osteoderms

Alligator is a well-adapted living fossil covered with dorsal armor. This dermal shield consists of bony plates, called osteoderms, interconnected by sutures and non-mineralized collagen fibers, providing a dual function of protection and flexibility. Osteoderm features a sandwich structure, combini...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta biomaterialia Vol. 9; no. 11; pp. 9049 - 9064
Main Authors: Sun, Chang-Yu, Chen, Po-Yu
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013
Subjects:
absorbance
Alligator mississippiensis
alligators
Alligators and Crocodiles
Alligators and Crocodiles - anatomy & histology
Alligators and Crocodiles - physiology
analysis
anatomy & histology
Animal Structures
Animal Structures - anatomy & histology
Animal Structures - diagnostic imaging
Animal Structures - physiology
Animal Structures - ultrastructure
Animals
Armor
Biomechanical Phenomena
Bone and Bones
Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology
Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging
Bone and Bones - physiology
Bone and Bones - ultrastructure
collagen
Composites
Compressive Strength
cortex
Elastic Modulus
energy
mechanical properties
Mechanical property
micro-computed tomography
mineral content
Minerals
Minerals - analysis
Osteoderm
physiology
porosity
radiography
scanning electron microscopes
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
sutures
Toughening mechanisms
ultrastructure
X-Ray Microtomography
Composites
Toughening mechanisms
Osteoderm
Armor
Mechanical property
ISSN:1742-7061, 1878-7568, 1878-7568
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Alligator is a well-adapted living fossil covered with dorsal armor. This dermal shield consists of bony plates, called osteoderms, interconnected by sutures and non-mineralized collagen fibers, providing a dual function of protection and flexibility. Osteoderm features a sandwich structure, combining an inner porous core and an outer dense cortex, to offer enhancements for stiffness and energy absorbance. In this study, we investigated the multi-scale structure and mechanical behaviors of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) osteoderm. Microcomputed tomography was applied to reveal the complex neurovascular network. Through the observation under optical and scanning electron microscopes, the osteoderm was found to consist of woven bone in the dorsal region and lamellar-zonal bone in the ventral region. Nanoindentation and compressive tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of osteoderms. The varying mineral contents and porosity result in a graded mechanical property: a hard and stiff dorsal cortex gradually transform to a more compliant ventral base. Three protective mechanisms optimized for alligator osteoderms were proposed and elucidated.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2013.07.016
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ISSN:1742-7061
1878-7568
1878-7568
DOI:10.1016/j.actbio.2013.07.016