Functional specialisation of the pelvic limb of the hare (<i>Lepus europeus</i>)

Williams, Sarah; Payne, R. C.; Wilson, Alan M.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2007.00704.x

Cited by 53 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…front brakes are more effective than rear brakes and rear wheel propulsion is more effective than front wheel propulsion) (Gray, 1944;Gray, 1968;Lee et al, 1999), the proximate cause is likely the resulting specialization of forelimb and, to a greater extent, hindlimb structure. Evidence of such anatomical specialization is provided by the substantial fraction of muscle mass represented by hindlimb (propulsive) retractors (Pasi and Carrier, 2003;Payne et al, 2005a;Williams et al, 2007a) and, to a lesser extent, forelimb (braking) protractors (Payne et al, 2005b;Williams et al, 2007b). In addition to anatomical observations, the propulsive bias of hindlimbs and braking bias of forelimbs is reproduced by simple trotting simulations with knee-forward/elbow-back geometry (Lee and Meek, 2005).…”

Section: Individual Limb Impulse Anglesmentioning

confidence: 83%

Effects of grade and mass distribution on the mechanics of trotting in dogs

Lee

2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYQuadrupedal running on grades requires balancing of pitch moments about the center of mass (COM) while supplying sufficient impulse to maintain a steady uphill or downhill velocity. Here, trotting mechanics on a 15deg grade were characterized by the distribution of impulse between the limbs and the angle of resultant impulse at each limb. Anterior-posterior manipulation of COM position has previously been shown to influence limb mechanics during level trotting of dogs; hence, the combined effects of grade and COM manipulations were explored by adding 10% body mass at the COM, shoulder or pelvis. Whole body and individual limb ground reaction forces, as well as spatiotemporal step parameters, were measured during downhill and uphill trotting. Deviations from steady-speed locomotion were determined by the net impulse angle and accounted for in the statistical model. The limbs exerted only propulsive force during uphill trotting and, with the exception of slight hindlimb propulsion in late stance, only braking force during downhill trotting. Ratios of forelimb impulse to total impulse were computed for normal and shear components. Normal impulse ratios were more different from level values during uphill than downhill trotting, indicating that the limbs act more as levers on the incline. Differential limb function was evident in the extreme divergence of forelimb and hindlimb impulse angles, amplifying forelimb braking and hindlimb propulsive biases observed during level trotting. In both downhill and uphill trotting, added mass at the up-slope limb resulted in fore-hind distributions of normal impulse more similar to those of level trotting and more equal fore-hind distributions of shear impulse. The latter result suggests a functional trade-off in quadruped design: a COM closer to the hindlimbs would distribute downhill braking more equally, whereas a COM closer to the forelimbs would distribute uphill propulsion more equally. Because muscles exert less force when actively shortening than when lengthening, it would be advantageous for the forelimb and hindlimb muscles to share the propulsive burden more equally during uphill trotting. This functional advantage is consistent with the anterior COM position of most terrestrial quadrupeds. Supplementary material available online at

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Section: Individual Limb Impulse Anglesmentioning

confidence: 83%

Effects of grade and mass distribution on the mechanics of trotting in dogs

Lee

2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Correspondingly, all muscles of the groundhog forelimb are capable of generating only moderate-to-low power, as we hypothesized. By a comparison of mass-normalized values, power capacity of badgers (Moore et al, 2013) exceeds that of the same muscles in groundhogs, and yet no badger forelimb muscle is capable of markedly high power output as estimated for some hindlimb muscles of cursorial mammals (Williams et al, 2007a;Williams et al, 2008). In addition to digging shallow burrows for shelter, American badgers actively hunt ground-dwelling rodents by rapid excavation of their burrows (Michener, 2004), whereas as groundhogs may burrow at a slower rate to dig deeper, morecomplex burrow systems.…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accounting for a Q 10 (temperature quotient) of 2−6 for V max (Pate et al, 1994;Ranatunga, 1996), a value of 7.87 FL s −1 was calculated as V max at physiologic temperature for groundhogs [37.8°C (Hayes, 1976)]. Importantly, calculations of F max and V max are only estimates, and are used here to indicate muscle functional capacity (Williams et al, 2007a;Smith et al, 2006).…”

Section: Muscle Functional Properties and Architectural Indexesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quantitative evaluations of limb muscle architecture and fiber type have mainly focused on cursorial adaptations (e.g. Alexander, 1984;Payne et al, 2005;Toniolo et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2007a); however, functional insights can be gained by interpretation of available muscle data in mammals that climb -a locomotor behavior that shows a number of morphological trade-offs with fossorial habit (Stalheim-Smith, 1984;Stalheim-Smith, 1989;Rose et al, 2014). Climbing mammals have relatively less intrinsic muscle mass for elbow extension and digital flexion (Gambaryan, 1974;Taylor, 1978;Moore, 2011), and variation in relative extrinsic muscle mass is largely explained by the absence of muscles.…”

Section: Comparative and Functional Insightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forelimb muscle architecture and myosin isoform composition in the groundhog (Marmota monax)

Rupert

Rose

Organ

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Scratch-digging mammals are commonly described as having large, powerful forelimb muscles for applying high force to excavate earth, yet studies quantifying the architectural properties of the musculature are largely unavailable. To further test hypotheses about traits that represent specializations for scratch-digging, we quantified muscle architectural properties and myosin expression in the forelimb of the groundhog (Marmota monax), a digger that constructs semi-complex burrows. Architectural properties measured were muscle moment arm, muscle mass (MM), belly length (ML), fascicle length (l F ), pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), and these metrics were used to estimate maximum isometric force, joint torque and power. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition was determined in selected forelimb muscles by SDS-PAGE and densitometry analysis. Groundhogs have large limb retractors and elbow extensors that are capable of applying moderately high torque at the shoulder and elbow joints, respectively. Most of these muscles (e.g. latissimus dorsi and pectoralis superficialis) have high l F /ML ratios, indicating substantial shortening ability and moderate power. The unipennate triceps brachii long head has the largest PCSA and is capable of the highest joint torque at both the shoulder and elbow joints. The carpal and digital flexors show greater pennation and shorter fascicle lengths than the limb retractors and elbow extensors, resulting in higher PCSA/MM ratios and force production capacity. Moreover, the digital flexors have the capacity for both appreciable fascicle shortening and force production, indicating high muscle work potential. Overall, the forelimb musculature of the groundhog is capable of relatively low sustained force and power, and these properties are consistent with the findings of a predominant expression of the MHC-2A isoform. Aside from the apparent modifications to the digital flexors, the collective muscle properties observed are consistent with its behavioral classification as a lessspecialized burrower and these may be more representative of traits common to numerous rodents with burrowing habits or mammals with some fossorial ability.

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“…The main function of tendons is to connect muscle with bone; while, they function to reduce limb inertia especially in the distal limb (Williams et al, 2007). In addition, some of them are capable of elastic energy storage (Brown, et al, 2003b) especially superficial and deep digital flexor tendons (Payne et al, 2005a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The architectural and functional specifications of intrinsic muscles of the fore limb of the Egyptian Baladi goats (Capra hircus)

Gewaily¹,

Fayed²,

Farrag³

2017

AJVS

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Key words:Goat, Forelimb, Muscle Architecture.This study provides quantitative anatomical data on the muscle-tendon units of intrinsic muscles of the forelimb of the domesticated goat specifically; muscle mass, volume, fascicle length, tendon mass, tendon volume, and tendon rest length. From these measurements, the physiological cross sectional area (PCSA) and maximum isometric force (F max ), in addition to tendon stress and tendon strain were calculated for each muscle. A total of 180 muscles (60 from each cadaver; 30 in each limb) were dissected to examine each muscle functional specifications and their role in limb function. The largest muscle mass was revealed to have the largest volume, long fascicle length and the highest capacity for force production. Within the functional groups of muscles, the proportion of muscle mass, muscle volume, PCSA as well as force generation was the greatest for the shoulder flexors followed by shoulder extensors. This is suitable for their role in weight bearing. The muscles working on joints of digits were having long tendons with high cross section area (CSA) and architecture index (AI) and thus were functionally suited to elastic energy storage needed for digital movement. In conclusion, architecture properties are crucial factors for determination of muscle function.

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Functional specialisation of the pelvic limb of the hare (Lepus europeus)

Cited by 53 publications

References 51 publications

Effects of grade and mass distribution on the mechanics of trotting in dogs

Effects of grade and mass distribution on the mechanics of trotting in dogs

Forelimb muscle architecture and myosin isoform composition in the groundhog (Marmota monax)

The architectural and functional specifications of intrinsic muscles of the fore limb of the Egyptian Baladi goats (Capra hircus)

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