References
Reference
Krahl, Anna et. al. (2016) Reconstruction of Cryptoclidus eurymerus humerus muscles, muscle forces, and lines of action: Implications for plesiosaur humerus finite element stress analysis; SVPCA Poster,
Reconstruction of Cryptoclidus eurymerus humerus muscles, muscle forces, and lines of action: Implications for plesiosaur humerus finite element stress analysis
Principal Author
Anna Krahl
Other Authors
P Martin Sander, U Witzel
Header
Conference Poster
Journal
SVPCA Poster
Book
Liverpool John Moore's University
Abstract
Commonly bones are viewed as bending structures. Yet, recent studies show that all skeletal elements are loaded under a compressive regime, which is established by agonistically and antagonistically acting tension chords (ligaments, tendons, and muscles). The energy uptake is lowered by this design because it cancels out tensile stress. Therefore bones are biologically optimized lightweight constructions [5, 11. 13]. Our study is designed to test this hypothesis and to apply it to the humerus of an extinct probable underwater flier, a plesiosaur. Plesiosauria are a highly successful clade of peiagically adapted marine reptiles inhabiting the Mesozoic oceans from the Late Triassic to the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction [4]. Unique to plesiosaurs are their four almost identically looking limbs that were modified into hydrofoil flippers, the dominant bone of which is the humerus, respectively the femur
Language
English