Does the osteon morphology depend on the body mass? A scaling study on macroscopic and histomorphometric differences between cow (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries)

Abstract The structure and geometry of bone depend on many biological environmental factors. These factors affect the tissue's microstructure differently, their interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. Our research investigated effect body mass macro- compact bone. Therefore we analyzed humerus femur bones from females 11 cows sheep at age 4–10 years. Both species have very similar dietary locomotion patterns, but size weight are different. Within macroscopical analyzes were observed ascending order robustness index diaphysis index. In both animals, plexiform irregular Haversian tissues identified in femur. Conversely, dense tissue present only cow above all most considerable interspecific osteonal difference between was osteon density, whose average value is 37% higher cow. osteons almost circular, more elliptical. species, femoral elliptical than those humerus. Despite weighing 10 times sheep, measurements canals, (the values ratio cow/sheep for these types comprised 1.04 to 1.86). findings indicate that does microstructure, probably sensitive other as a lifestyle locomotor ability.