TAIL MUSCLE ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN WALKING AND FLYING PIGEONS (COLUMBA LIVIA)

1993 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Gatesy ◽  
K. P. Dial
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Avian Evolution ◽  
Terrestrial Locomotion ◽  
Temporal Flexibility ◽  
High Speed Cinematography ◽  
Tail Muscle

The electrical activity of major caudal muscles of the pigeon (Columba livia) was recorded during five modes of aerial and terrestrial locomotion. Tail muscle electromyograms were correlated with movement using high-speed cinematography and compared to activity in selected muscles of the wings, legs and trunk. During walking, the pectoralis and most tail muscles are normally inactive, but levator muscle activity alternates with the striding legs. In flight, caudal muscles are phasically active with each wingbeat and undergo distinct changes in electromyographic pattern between liftoff, takeoff, slow level flapping and landing modes. The temporal flexibility of tail muscle activity differs significantly from the stereotypic timing of wing muscles in pigeons performing the same flight modes. These neural programs may represent different solutions to the control of flight surfaces in the rapidly oscillating wing and the relatively stationary caudal skeleton. Birds exhibit a novel alliance of tail and forelimb use during aerial locomotion. We suggest that there is evidence of anatomical and functional decoupling of the tail from adjacent hindlimb and trunk muscles during avian evolution to facilitate its specialization for rectricial control in flight.

Environmental effects on undulatory locomotion in the American eel Anguilla rostrata: kinematics in water and on land

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (7) ◽  
pp. 949-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. B. Gillis
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
The Body ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
American Eel ◽  
Terrestrial Locomotion ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Undulatory Locomotion ◽  
Longitudinal Position

Historically, the study of swimming eels (genus Anguilla) has been integral to our understanding of the mechanics and muscle activity patterns used by fish to propel themselves in the aquatic environment. However, no quantitative kinematic analysis has been reported for these animals. Additionally, eels are known to make transient terrestrial excursions, and in the past it has been presumed (but never tested) that the patterns of undulatory movement used terrestrially are similar to those used during swimming. In this study, high-speed video was used to characterize the kinematic patterns of undulatory locomotion in water and on land in the American eel Anguilla rostrata. During swimming, eels show a nonlinear increase in the amplitude of lateral undulations along their bodies, reaching an average maximum of 0.08L, where L is total length, at the tip of the tail. However, in contrast to previous observations, the most anterior regions of their bodies do not undergo significant undulation. In addition, a temporal lag (typically 10–15 % of an undulatory cycle) exists between maximal flexion and displacement at any given longitudinal position. Swimming speed does not have a consistent effect on this lag or on the stride length (distance moved per tailbeat) of the animal. Speed does have subtle (although statistically insignificant) effects on the patterns of undulatory amplitude and intervertebral flexion along the body. On land, eels also use lateral undulations to propel themselves; however, their entire bodies are typically bent into waves, and the undulatory amplitude at all body positions is significantly greater than during swimming at equivalent speeds. The temporal lag between flexion and displacement seen during swimming is not present during terrestrial locomotion. While eels cannot move forwards as quickly on land as they do in water, they do increase locomotor speed with increasing tailbeat frequency. The clear kinematic distinctions present between aquatic and terrestrial locomotor sequences suggest that eels might be using different axial muscle activity patterns to locomote in the different environments.

scholarly journals Asymmetrical Muscle Activity During Feeding in the Gar, Lepisosteus Oculatus

1980 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
G. V. LAUDER ◽  
S. M. NORTON
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Spotted Gar ◽  
High Speed Cinematography ◽  
The Right ◽  
Epaxial Muscles ◽  
Lepisosteus Oculatus

Prey capture in the spotted gar, Lepisosteus oculatus, was studied by high-speed cinematography synchronized with electromyographic recordings of cranial muscle activity. Muscle activity patterns were recorded during each of the three major phases of feeding: the initial strike at the prey, manipulation of the prey following capture, and swallowing. With one exception, the obliquus superioris, all muscles at the strike are active in a bilaterally symmetrical pattern. During the manipulation phase two distinct muscle activity patterns occur: one is characterized by symmetrical activity in the epaxial muscles and obliquus inferioris, the other by complete asymmetry between the right and left sternohyoideus, obliquus superioris, and epaxial muscles. Low-amplitude manipulatory movements are characterized by activity in one side of the sternohyoideus only, all other muscles being generally inactive. The adductor mandibulae and obliquus inferioris are always active symmetrically. Asymmetrical activity in the sternohyoideus, epaxial muscles, and obliquus superioris correlates with lateral head movements during feeding and acts to rotate prey into the preferred orientation for swallowing. The pattern of asymmetrical activity between right and left side muscles is discussed in relation to previous studies of feeding which utilized only unilateral muscle recordings.

The C-start escape response ofPolypterus senegalus: bilateral muscle activity and variation during stage 1 and 2

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (17) ◽  
pp. 2591-2603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Tytell ◽  
George V. Lauder
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Escape Response ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Wave Speed ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Motor Pattern ◽  
The Body ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fast Start ◽  
Stage 1

SUMMARYThe fast-start escape response is the primary reflexive escape mechanism in a wide phylogenetic range of fishes. To add detail to previously reported novel muscle activity patterns during the escape response of the bichir, Polypterus, we analyzed escape kinematics and muscle activity patterns in Polypterus senegalus using high-speed video and electromyography (EMG). Five fish were filmed at 250 Hz while synchronously recording white muscle activity at five sites on both sides of the body simultaneously (10 sites in total). Body wave speed and center of mass velocity, acceleration and curvature were calculated from digitized outlines. Six EMG variables per channel were also measured to characterize the motor pattern. P. senegalus shows a wide range of activity patterns, from very strong responses, in which the head often touched the tail, to very weak responses. This variation in strength is significantly correlated with the stimulus and is mechanically driven by changes in stage 1 muscle activity duration. Besides these changes in duration, the stage 1 muscle activity is unusual because it has strong bilateral activity, although the observed contralateral activity is significantly weaker and shorter in duration than ipsilateral activity. Bilateral activity may stiffen the body, but it does so by a constant amount over the variation we observed; therefore, P. senegalus does not modulate fast-start wave speed by changing body stiffness. Escape responses almost always have stage 2 contralateral muscle activity, often only in the anterior third of the body. The magnitude of the stage 2 activity is the primary predictor of final escape velocity.

scholarly journals Red muscle activity in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus during forward accelerations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margot A. B. Schwalbe ◽  
Alexandra L. Boden ◽  
Tyler N. Wise ◽  
Eric D. Tytell
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Red Muscle ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Tail Beat ◽  
Effective Mechanical Properties

AbstractFishes generate force to swim by activating muscles on either side of their flexible bodies. To accelerate, they must produce higher muscle forces, which leads to higher reaction forces back on their bodies from the environment. If their bodies are too flexible, the forces during acceleration cannot be transmitted effectively to the environment. Here, we investigate whether fish can use their red muscle to stiffen their bodies during acceleration. We used high-speed video, electromyographic recordings, and a new digital inertial measurement unit to quantify body kinematics, red muscle activity, and 3D orientation and centre of mass acceleration during forward accelerations and steady swimming over several speeds. During acceleration, fish co-activated anterior muscle on the left and right side, and activated all muscle sooner and kept it active for a larger fraction of the tail beat cycle. These activity patterns are consistent with our hypothesis that fish use their red muscle to stiffen their bodies during acceleration. We suggest that during impulsive movements, flexible organisms like fishes can use their muscles not only to generate propulsive power but to tune the effective mechanical properties of their bodies, increasing performance during rapid movements and maintaining flexibility for slow, steady movements.

Patterns of white muscle activity during terrestrial locomotion in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.B. Gillis
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
White Muscle ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Strain Cycle ◽  
Terrestrial Locomotion ◽  
Duty Cycles ◽  
Undulatory Locomotion ◽  
Longitudinal Position

Eels (Anguilla rostrata) are known to make occasional transitory excursions into the terrestrial environment. While on land, their locomotor kinematics deviate drastically from that observed during swimming. In this study, electromyographic (EMG) recordings were made from white muscle at various longitudinal positions in eels performing undulatory locomotion on land to determine the muscle activity patterns underlying these terrestrial movements. As during swimming, eels propagate a wave of muscle activity from anterior to posterior during terrestrial locomotion. However, the intensity of EMG bursts is much greater on land (on average approximately five times greater than in water). In addition, anteriorly located musculature has higher-intensity EMG bursts than posteriorly located muscle during locomotion on land. EMG duty cycle (burst duration relative to undulatory cycle time) is significantly affected by longitudinal position during terrestrial locomotion, and duty cycles are significantly greater on land (0.4-0.5 cycles) than in water (0. 2–0.3 cycles). Finally, as in swimming, a phase shift in the timing of muscle activity exists such that posteriorly located muscle fibers become activated earlier in their strain cycle than do more anteriorly located fibers. However, fibers become activated much later in their muscle strain cycle on land than in water. Therefore, it is clear that, while eels propagate a wave of muscle activity posteriorly to generate backward-traveling waves that generate propulsive thrust both in water and on land, the specific patterns of timing and the intensity of muscle activity are substantially altered depending upon the environment. This suggests that physical differences in an animal's external environment can play a substantial role in affecting the motor control of locomotion, even when similar structures are used to generate the propulsive forces.

Comparison among low intensity bridge exercises using suspension devices based on muscle activity and subjective difficulty

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sang-Yeol Lee ◽  
Se-Yeon Park
Keyword(s):  
Inclination Angle ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Oblique Muscle ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Internal Oblique Muscle ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Erector Spinae Muscle ◽  
Internal Oblique

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have revealed the advantages of using suspension devices. Although the supine, lateral, and forward leaning bridge exercises are low-intensity exercises with suspension devices, there is a lack of studies directly comparing exercise progression by measuring muscular activity and subjective difficulty. OBJECTIVE: To identify how the variations in the bridge exercise affects trunk muscle activity, the present study investigated changes in neuromuscular activation during low-intensity bridge exercises. We furthermore explored whether the height of the suspension point affects muscle activation and subjective difficulty. METHODS: Nineteen asymptomatic male participants were included. Three bridge exercise positions, supine bridge (SB), lateral bridge (LB), forward leaning (FL), and two exercise angles (15 and 30 degrees) were administered, thereby comparing six bridge exercise conditions with suspension devices. Surface electromyography and subjective difficulty data were collected. RESULTS: The rectus abdominis activity was significantly higher with the LB and FL exercises compared with the SB exercise (p< 0.05). The erector spinae muscle activity was significantly higher with the SB and LB exercises, compared with the FL exercise (p< 0.05). The LB exercise significantly increased the internal oblique muscle activity, compared with other exercise variations (p< 0.05). The inclination angle of the exercise only affected the internal oblique muscle and subjective difficulty, which were significantly higher at 30 degrees compared with 15 degrees (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Relatively higher inclination angle was not effective in overall activation of the trunk muscles; however, different bridge-type exercises could selectively activate the trunk muscles. The LB and SB exercises could be good options for stimulating the internal oblique abdominis, and the erector spinae muscle, while the FL exercise could minimize the erector spinae activity and activate the abdominal muscles.

Effects of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury on Muscle Activity of Head, Neck and Trunk Muscles: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation

CRANIO® ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Tecco ◽  
Vincenzo Salini ◽  
Stefano Teté ◽  
Felice Festa ◽  
Christian Colucci
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Head Neck

New findings on life history traits of Xenos peckii (Strepsiptera: Xenidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 514-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hrabar ◽  
A. Danci ◽  
S. McCann ◽  
P.W. Schaefer ◽  
G. Gries
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Suture Line ◽  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
New Findings ◽  
High Speed Cinematography ◽  
Normal Speed ◽  
Wasp Nests

AbstractWe studied life history traits of Xenos peckii Kirby (Strepsiptera: Xenidae), a little-known parasite of the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus (Fabricus) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in North America. We field-collected 24 wasp nests in early July 2012, isolated parasitised wasps, tracked life history events of X. peckii, and recorded such behaviour as emergence of males and mating by normal-speed and high-speed cinematography. To emerge, males first cut the puparium with their mandibles along an ecdysial suture line, and then push aside the pupal cap during emergence. The endoparasitic females engage in active calling (pheromone release) behaviour by slowly inflating their cephalothorax, and then extruding it even farther out of, and tilting it away from, the host wasp abdomen. Seasonal and diel (afternoon) emergence periods of males coincide with seasonal and diel receptivity and calling periods of females. Males approach calling females in a swaying flight with smooth turns. They typically land on the anterior portion of the host wasp's abdomen, and then step backward until they make contact with the cephalothorax of the female. As soon as their mesothoracic legs contact the female's cephalothorax, they curl around it, and the male initiates mating. Thereafter, the female fully retreats and never re-mates.

Angular Momentum Requirements of the Twisting and Nontwisting Forward 1 1/2 Somersault Dive

1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross H. Sanders ◽  
Barry D. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Center Of Gravity ◽  
Transverse Axis ◽  
Free Position ◽  
High Speed Cinematography ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Hip Flexion ◽  
Commonwealth Games

This study investigated the in-flight rotation of elite 3m springboard divers by determining the angular momentum requirement about the transverse axis through the divers center of gravity (somersault axis) required to perform a forward 1 1/2 somersault with and without twist. Three elite male divers competing in the 1982 Commonwealth Games were filmed using high-speed cinematography while performing the forward 1 1/2 somersault in the pike position and the forward 1 1/2 somersault with one twist in a free position. The film was digitized to provide a kinematic description of each dive. An inclined axis technique appeared to be the predominant means of producing twist after takeoff from the board. The angular momentum about the somersault axis after takeoff was greater for the forward 1 1/2 somersault with twist than the forward 1 1/2 somersault without twist for all three divers. The difference in angular momentum between the two dives of each diver ranged from 6% to 19%. The most observable difference between the dives during the preflight phases was the degree of hip flexion at takeoff. There was more hip flexion at takeoff in 5132D than 103B for all three divers. This difference ranged from 9° to 18° (mean = 14°).

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