Changes in collagen fibre organisation that provide strength for the tissue could be behind the development of curved spines, according to new research.

 

Scientists from Trinity College Dublin are assessing how the development of spinal ligaments provide mechanical stability and impact postural support in the spine – with a view to better understanding how developmental 'missteps' may contribute to spinal deformations, such as the characteristic curved spines that develop in people with scoliosis.

 

The research used an animal model (chick embryos) to examine the maturation of spinal ligaments. Specifically, they anatomically profiled six ligaments across late stages of development and revealed changes in collagen fibre organisation that provide strength for the tissue, identifying areas worth close follow-up investigation.

 

Future investigations will explore whether defects in spinal ligaments during development result in failure during adolescent growth, ultimately contributing to adolescent scoliosis. 

 

The study was published in the Journal of Anatomy.