Hobbs Sarah Jane, Curtis Simon, Martin Jaime, Sinclair Jonathan, Clayton Hilary M
Research Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
Church Cottage, 59 The Street, Newmarket IP28 6PL, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2022 Nov 11;12(22):3119. doi: 10.3390/ani12223119.
Conformation of the hooves and distal limbs of foals and factors influencing their morphological development have not been reported in detail for the Thoroughbred breed. In this paper we explore morphogenesis of the equine distal limb in Thoroughbred foals with emphasis on adaptations in response to weight bearing early in life that prepare the foal for an athletic career. Novel data from four studies are presented chronologically during key time periods to illustrate specific aspects of distal limb growth and adaptation. Dorsal epidermal thickness increased from 2.84 ± 0.41 mm in utero to 4.04 ± 1.10 mm by 4 months of age. The increase in thickness was accompanied by decreased tubular density, increased inter-tubular material, and an increase in number and size of tubules at the quarters, which provided a malleable hoof capsule to allow for skeletal growth. Between 4−6 months of age, the hoof widens, and higher loading on the medial side (>60%) vs. the lateral side (<40%) may be factors that influence mature asymmetric hoof shape. Shortly after 12 months-of-age, the dorsal hoof wall angle and dorsal parietal angle of the distal phalanx become parallel, thus optimizing the functional capacity of the hoof capsule in the weanling Thoroughbred.
对于纯种马驹的蹄部和远端肢体的形态及其影响形态发育的因素，目前尚无详细报道。在本文中，我们探讨了纯种马驹马远端肢体的形态发生，重点关注其在生命早期对负重的适应性，这些适应性为马驹的运动生涯做好准备。我们按时间顺序展示了四项研究的新数据，这些数据来自关键时期，以说明远端肢体生长和适应的具体方面。背侧表皮厚度从子宫内的2.84±0.41毫米增加到4月龄时的4.04±1.10毫米。厚度的增加伴随着管状密度的降低、管间物质的增加以及蹄侧的小管数量和大小的增加，这提供了一个可塑的蹄壳，以适应骨骼生长。在4至6月龄之间，蹄部变宽，内侧（>60%）相对于外侧（<40%）承受更高的负荷，这可能是影响成熟蹄不对称形状的因素。在12月龄后不久，远端指骨的背侧蹄壁角和背侧顶骨角变得平行，从而优化了断奶纯种马驹蹄壳的功能。
