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Human Evolution and Osteoporosis-Related Spinal Fractures

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  • Meghan M Cotter
  • David A Loomis
  • Scott W Simpson
  • Bruce Latimer
  • Christopher J Hernandez

Abstract

The field of evolutionary medicine examines the possibility that some diseases are the result of trade-offs made in human evolution. Spinal fractures are the most common osteoporosis-related fracture in humans, but are not observed in apes, even in cases of severe osteopenia. In humans, the development of osteoporosis is influenced by peak bone mass and strength in early adulthood as well as age-related bone loss. Here, we examine the structural differences in the vertebral bodies (the portion of the vertebra most commonly involved in osteoporosis-related fractures) between humans and apes before age-related bone loss occurs. Vertebrae from young adult humans and chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons (T8 vertebrae, n = 8–14 per species, male and female, humans: 20–40 years of age) were examined to determine bone strength (using finite element models), bone morphology (external shape), and trabecular microarchitecture (micro-computed tomography). The vertebrae of young adult humans are not as strong as those from apes after accounting for body mass (p

Suggested Citation

  • Meghan M Cotter & David A Loomis & Scott W Simpson & Bruce Latimer & Christopher J Hernandez, 2011. "Human Evolution and Osteoporosis-Related Spinal Fractures," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(10), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0026658
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026658
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