Three-dimensional architecture of the human subscapularis muscle in vivo
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Detailed analysis of the characteristics of skeletal muscle architecture provides insights into skeletal muscle function. However, measurements of subscapularis architecture have been limited to cadaveric measurements. In this study we demonstrate the feasibility of using anatomically constrained fibre tractography to reconstruct and quantify the 3D architecture of the human subscapularis muscle in vivo, and we provide the first quantitative measurements of the architecture of the human subscapularis muscle in vivo. mDixon and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance images were obtained from the right shoulders of healthy young adults. Anatomically constrained fibre tractography was used to reconstruct muscle fibre architectures of the subscapularis muscles from 12 participants. Muscle architectural parameters (means ± SDs) were: muscle volume 142 ± 37 cm3, fascicle length 8.4 ± 0.8 cm, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) 17 ± 4 cm2, and pennation angle 19 ± 3°. Qualitatively, architectural reconstructions resembled the known subscapularis anatomy well, demonstrating face validity of the reconstructions. Quantitative measurements of the subscapularis architecture fell within the range reported in cadaver studies, suggesting our measurements were at least broadly accurate. The resulting anatomically detailed whole-muscle reconstructions can be used to explore skeletal muscle structure-function relationships non-invasively, to develop anatomically realistic computational models of the human shoulder, and to track age- or clinical intervention-related adaptations of skeletal muscles.
Source: Journal of Biomechanics
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W4387956302