The biomechanical design and morphofunctional evolution of presacral vertebrae in Sauropodomorpha deduced from shape analysis and FESS

最大的蜥脚类恐龙的大小接近陆地脊椎动物的理论大小极限。要了解蜥脚类动物的身体结构，必须对它们的运载系统有详细的了解。除了四肢和腰带，这是以前在研究股框架内研究的主题，对脊柱结构和力学的理解是必不可少的。古生物学家长期以来一直在研究蜥脚类动物骶前椎骨的复杂结构，但迄今为止还没有对这些结构进行详细的生物力学研究。此外，这种解剖复杂的进化可以在最近的sauropodomorph恐龙的系统发育分析的框架内进行研究，从而更好地了解蜥脚类动物的进化。因此，在目前的项目中，将使用统计比较和生物力学技术，如形状分析和有限元结构合成相结合的研究骶前椎骨的结构。这将允许量化蜥脚类动物脊椎结构的进化变化，并将这些变化纳入功能和生物力学背景。反过来，这将导致更好地理解塑造蜥脚类动物设计的功能和机械限制。

The size of the largest sauropod dinosaurs is close to the theoretical size limit for terrestrial vertebrates. To understand body design of sauropod, a detailed knowledge of their carrying system is essential. Apart from the limbs and girdles, which were the subject of a previous study in the framework of the Research Unit, understanding of the structure and mechanics of the vertebra) column are essential. Palaeontologists have long marvelled over the complex structure of presacral vertebrae of sauropods, but no detailed biomechanical study of these structures has been carried out so far. Furthermore, the evolution of this anatomical complex can be studied in the framework of recent phylogenetic analyses of sauropodomorph dinosaurs, leading to a better understanding of the evolution of gigantism in sauropods. Thus, in the current project the structure of the presacrai vertebrae will be investigated using a combination of statistical comparative and biomechanical techniques, such as shape analysis and Finite Element Structure Synthesis. This will allow a quantification of evolutionary changes in vertebral structure in sauropods and put these changes into a functional and biomechanical context. This, in turn, will lead to a better understanding of the functional and mechanical constraints that have shaped sauropod design.