Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Hindlimb extensor muscle function during jumping and swimming in the toad (Bufo marinus).

G B Gillis1, A A Biewener

  • 1Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Concord Field Station, Old Causeway Road, Bedford, MA 01730, USA. ggillis@oeb.harvard.edu

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|November 4, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Toad hindlimb muscles adjust their activity and shortening patterns for jumping versus swimming. Muscle activation and joint extension timing differ between these two distinct forms of locomotion.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Modeling muscle function using experimentally determined subject-specific muscle properties.

Journal of biomechanics·2021
Same author

The Influence of Visual, Vestibular, and Hindlimb Proprioceptive Ablations on Landing Preparation in Cane Toads.

Integrative and comparative biology·2018
Same author

Different Segments within Vertebrate Muscles Can Operate on Different Regions of Their Force-Length Relationships.

Integrative and comparative biology·2018
Same author

The effect of fast and slow motor unit activation on whole-muscle mechanical performance: the size principle may not pose a mechanical paradox.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2014
Same author

A constitutive description of the anisotropic response of the fascia lata.

Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials·2013
Same author

Hind limb scaling of kangaroos and wallabies (superfamily Macropodoidea): implications for hopping performance, safety factor and elastic savings.

Journal of anatomy·2007

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Comparative Physiology
  • Locomotion Studies

Background:

  • Anurans utilize hindlimb propulsion for both terrestrial jumping and aquatic swimming.
  • Understanding the musculoskeletal dynamics and motor control differences between these environments is crucial for comprehending limb function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differences in muscle strain and electromyographic (EMG) activity in key hindlimb muscles of the toad (Bufo marinus) during jumping and swimming.
  • To elucidate how musculoskeletal dynamics and motor output are adapted for distinct propulsive tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Sonomicrometry was used to measure muscle strain (changes in muscle length).
  • Electromyography (EMG) was employed to record muscle electrical activity.
  • Measurements were taken from four hindlimb muscles (semimembranosus, plantaris, gluteus, cruralis) during both jumping and swimming.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Muscle activation was nearly synchronous for both locomotion types, but joint extension timing differed, with the hip extending earlier in jumping.
  • Muscle shortening patterns varied, with the plantaris (ankle extensor) completing shortening after takeoff during jumping and significantly later during swimming.
  • EMG burst intensity was generally higher during jumping, while EMG burst duration varied, notably in the cruralis (knee extensor).

Conclusions:

  • Toad hindlimb function is significantly altered between jumping and swimming.
  • These functional differences are actively mediated by shifts in motor output and muscle mechanical behavior.
  • Passive effects from environmental differences also influence hindlimb performance during locomotion.