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Skeletal Biomechanics

Functional morphology in biological anthropology relies upon a sound understanding of the biomechanics of the primate skeleton. The widespread assumption that skeletal form reflects loading history ("Wolff's Law"), however, is subject to a number of important qualifications. My research into the relationship of masticatory forces to mandibular morphology indicates that the distribution of stresses in the mandibular corpus are highly inequitable and do not correspond neatly to regional variations in size and shape. These findings suggest that the inference of load history from purely morphological criteria is problematic.

My laboratory is equipped to analyze patterns of bone strain in vitro for purposes of refining and testing current models of bone behavior. This work will lead to improved models of skeletal function and permit more confident assessment of  biomechanical problems in the primate fossil record.

 
 
 
 
 
 

For some biomechanical questions, there are no easy formulae or computations that can be utilized. Instead, complex mathematical models or experimental data must be brought to bear on a problem. For example, in trying to understand the weakening effect of alveoli in the mandible, we designed an experiment in which we measured surface bone strain in an intact long bone and then produced simulated alveoli to assess changes in the stress environment (see Daegling et al. 1992). Such experiments serve to inform subsequent experimental, theoretical and comparative investigations.

Representative Publications

Daegling, D.J. and Hylander, W.L. (2000) Experimental observation, theoretical models and biomechanical inference in the study of mandibular form. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 112: 541-551.

Daegling, D.J. and Hylander, W.L. (1998) Biomechanics of torsion in the human mandible. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 105: 73-87.

Daegling, D.J. and Hylander, W.L. (1997) Occlusal forces and mandibular bone strain: Is the primate jaw "overdesigned?" J. Human Evol. 33: 705-717.

Daegling, D.J., Ravosa, M.J., Johnson, K.R., and Hylander, W.L. (1992) Influence of teeth and periodontal ligaments on torsional rigidity in human mandibles. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 89: 59-72.