Ultrasonographic description of tendons and ligaments at the palmar (plantar) aspect of the distal limb in the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).

OBJECTIVE: To provide complete anatomical and ultrasonographic description of tendons and ligaments at the palmar (plantar) aspect of the cannon and phalangeal regions of the one-humped camel. DESIGN: Forty-two (21 fore and 21 hind) clinically normal camel cadavers' limbs disarticulated at the carpal and tarsal joints and three clinically normal mature camels were included in the study. Six cadaver limbs (three fore and three hind) were dissected, and another six limbs specimens (three fore and three hind) were frozen at -20° for 1 week then sectioned transversely with an electric band saw at different distances distal to the carpometacarpal and tarsometatarsal joints. The ultrasonographic study was carried out on the live camels and 30 cadaveric limbs. The shape, echogenicity and measurements (thickness, width and cross-sectional area) of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), suspensory ligament (SL), and sesamoidean ligaments were recorded and the differences in values between live animals and cadaveric specimens were statistically analysed. RESULTS: The shape and echogenicity of SDFT, DDFT, and SL, varied between proximal, middle, and distal thirds of the cannon bone and the phalangeal region. There was no significant difference between live animal and cadaveric specimens. CONCLUSION: This study provided complete description of tendons and ligaments at the palmar (plantar) aspect of the cannon and phalangeal region of the one humped camel. The data obtained serves as a reference guide for practicing veterinarians and for future studies on injury to ligaments and tendons of camel's distal extremity.

Topographically guided hierarchical mineralization.

Material platforms based on interaction between organic and inorganic phases offer enormous potential to develop materials that can recreate the structural and functional properties of biological systems. However, the capability of organic-mediated mineralizing strategies to guide mineralization with spatial control remains a major limitation. Here, we report on the integration of a protein-based mineralizing matrix with surface topographies to grow spatially guided mineralized structures. We reveal how well-defined geometrical spaces defined within the organic matrix by the surface topographies can trigger subtle changes in single nanocrystal co-alignment, which are then translated to drastic changes in mineralization at the microscale and macroscale. Furthermore, through systematic modifications of the surface topographies, we demonstrate the possibility of selectively guiding the growth of hierarchically mineralized structures. We foresee that the capacity to direct the anisotropic growth of such structures would have important implications in the design of biomineralizing synthetic materials to repair or regenerate hard tissues.