Microstructure and mechanical properties of different keratinous horns.

ABSTRACT: Animal horns play an important role during intraspecific combat. This work investigates the microstructure and mechanical properties of horns from four representative ruminant species: the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), domestic sheep (Ovis aries), mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), aiming to understand the relation between evolved microstructures and mechanical properties. Microstructural similarity is found where disc-shaped keratin cells attach edge-to-edge along the growth direction of the horn core (longitudinal direction) forming a lamella; multiple lamellae are layered face to face along the impact direction (radial direction, perpendicular to horn core growth direction), forming a wavy pattern surrounding a common feature, the tubules. Diff

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6030630 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature