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lindemann-et-al-landmark-free-statistical-shape-modelling-reveals-effects-of-age-and-sex-on-whole-muscle-morphology2.18 MB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Landmark-free statistical shape modelling reveals effects of age and sex on whole muscle morphology among the triceps surae
Royal Society Open Science, Vol.12(4), pp.1-13
2025
PMID: 40206857
Abstract
The shape of skeletal muscle has important influences on muscle function, yet studies of three-dimensional shape variation are rarely performed. Analysis of muscle shape variation using traditional tools is limited by lack of anatomical landmarks, but modern landmark-free methods provide new opportunities to study complex shapes. We used generalized Procrustes surface analysis to characterize shape variation among the triceps surae: medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and soleus (SOL), digitized using magnetic resonance imaging from 21 younger (8 females, 13 males; 24.6 ± 4.3 years) and 15 older (6 females; 9 males; 70.4 ± 2.4 years) physically active participants. In both gastrocnemii, the first principal component (PC) of shape variance was related to muscle width and thickness. The second PC was related to variation in the MG’s insertion and variation in thickness along the LG long axis. In the SOL, the first PC was related to overall muscle thickness and length while the second PC captured variation in lateral margin thickness and curvature of the medial border. Muscle shape differed between young and older adults in MG and LG, while SOL shape differed between males and females. These findings demonstrate statistical shape modelling as a promising tool for disentangling multiple influences on skeletal muscle shape and provide important input for future biomechanical modelling investigations.
Details
- Title
- Landmark-free statistical shape modelling reveals effects of age and sex on whole muscle morphology among the triceps surae
- Authors
- India Lindemann - The University of QueenslandRobert L. Cieri - University of British ColumbiaChristofer J. Clemente - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringTaylor J. M. Dick (Corresponding Author) - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Royal Society Open Science, Vol.12(4), pp.1-13
- Publisher
- The Royal Society Publishing
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsos.250198
- ISSN
- 2054-5703
- PMID
- 40206857
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Data Availability
- The data that support the findings of this study are openly available at https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23896254.v1
- Grant note
- This research was supported by a University of Queensland Early Career Researcher grant awarded to T.J.M.D.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991122050102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Physiology