An assessment of the role of the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli in the cranium of the cat (Felis silvestris catus)

Víctor Sellés de Lucas (Corresponding Author), Hugo Dutel, Susan E. Evans, Flora Gröning, Alana C. Sharp, Peter J. Watson, Michael J Fagan

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7 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

The falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli are two projections of the dura mater in the cranial cavity which ossify to varying degrees in some mammalian species. The idea that the ossification of these structures may be necessary to support the loads arising during feeding has been proposed and dismissed in the past, but never tested quantitatively. To address this, a biomechanical model of a domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) skull was created and the material properties of the falx and tentorium were varied for a series of loading regimes incorporating the main masticatory and neck muscles during biting. Under these loading conditions, ossification of the falx cerebri does not have a significant impact on the stress in the cranial bones. In the case of the tentorium, however, a localized increase in stress was observed in the parietal and temporal bones, including the tympanic bulla, when a non-ossified tentorium was modelled. These effects were consistent across the different analyses, irrespective of loading regime. The results suggest that ossification of the tentorium cerebelli may play a minor role during feeding activities by decreasing the stress in the back of the skull.
Original languageEnglish
Article number20180278
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume15
Issue number147
Early online date24 Oct 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2018

Bibliographical note

Data supporting this work are available on Dryad: doi:10.5061/dryad.q33df2v [50]

We thank the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) who provided funding for this research (BB/M008525/1; BB/M010287/1; BB/M008061/1).

Keywords

  • finite element analysis
  • biomechanics
  • Carnivora
  • dura mater
  • falx cerebri
  • tentorium cerebelli

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