BackgroundModel organisms and experimental models have long been widely used in the field of biosciences, including the area of musculoskeletal physiology. Several important milestones have been achieved in the field thanks to their application, allowing scientists to develop concepts, technologies, and methodologies to better understand physiological processes of the musculoskeletal system also in more complex living systems, including humans.
Understanding the biological, mechanical, and structural mechanisms regulating the development and homeostasis of the musculoskeletal system is essential to studying pathological conditions and contributing to the development of regenerative medicine. Although model organisms cannot fully replicate human conditions and reproduce the clinical pathology of the musculoskeletal system, they play beneficial and vital roles in research for multiple reasons. They provide feasible tools to investigate the mechanism of disease progression instead of the final stages of the pathological tendon conditions that limit human studies. Animal models also reproduce consistent injury models and allow genetic studies, which contribute to the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating physiological and pathological musculoskeletal conditions.
GoalsIn addition to focusing on the many advantages of using model organisms in the field of musculoskeletal physiology, this Research Topic also aims to shed light on the challenges and limitations that accompany their application. The scope of this collection covers, but is not limited to, the following themes and questions:
- Animal models for tendon development, tendon repair, and chronic tendon diseases
- Animal and experimental models for studying bone physiology and metabolism
- Animal models for cartilage regeneration and repair
- Animal and experimental models to study muscle physiology
- Model systems to study the physiology of joints
- Animal models to better understand the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Musculoskeletal substitute development and tissue engineering concepts
- Musculoskeletal imaging technologies, and methodologies for assessing musculoskeletal quality and the optimization of musculoskeletal regeneration.
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This Research Topic is part of the Experimental Models and Model Organisms series of Frontiers in Physiology. Other titles in this series include:
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