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

Tendon elasticity and muscle function.

R McNeill Alexander1

  • 1School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. r.m.alexander@leeds.ac.uk

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
|December 18, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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

The role of hypotheses in biomechanical research.

Science in context·2012
Same author

Biomechanics: Leaping lizards and dinosaurs.

Nature·2012
Same author

Stability and manoeuvrability of terrestrial vertebrates.

Integrative and comparative biology·2011
Same author

The merits and implications of travel by swimming, flight and running for animals of different sizes.

Integrative and comparative biology·2011
Same author

Flat and bouncy walking.

The Journal of physiology·2007
Same author

Obituary: Knut Schmidt-Nielsen (1915-2007).

Nature·2007
Same journal

Integrated nutritional, antimicrobial, and transcriptomic analysis of the caudal gland in Sepiella inermis reveals a specialized bioactive defense organ.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

Disruption of Pik3r1 promotes muscle hyperplasia and lipolysis in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

Methods: Novel use of mitochondrial function to optimize the permeabilization of crustacean gill types.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

Kisspeptin-2 stimulates testicular function in adult pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis): Does it act directly on the testes?

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

A single GPCR locus in Drosophila melanogaster partitions stress physiology by sex.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

Mechanisms underlying tolerance of severe hypoxia in sulfide spring fish.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology·2026
See all related articles

Vertebrate animals utilize tendon elasticity for energy saving during locomotion and enhanced jumping performance. Tendon elasticity also influences muscle control, impacting force and position regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Animal Locomotion
  • Musculoskeletal System

Background:

  • Vertebrate animals exhibit diverse adaptations in their musculoskeletal systems.
  • Tendon elasticity plays a crucial role in various biological functions.
  • Understanding these roles is key to comprehending animal movement and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the functional significance of tendon elasticity in vertebrate animals.
  • To explore the energy-saving mechanisms during locomotion.
  • To investigate the impact of tendon elasticity on jumping ability and muscle control.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of biomechanical principles related to elastic energy storage and return in tendons.
  • Review of existing literature on locomotion in birds, mammals, and cetaceans.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the relationship between tendon recoil speed and muscle contraction dynamics.

    • Main Results:

    • Tendon elasticity significantly contributes to metabolic energy conservation in locomotion (e.g., running, galloping, swimming).
    • Elastic recoil of tendons enables greater jumping distances than muscle-only contractions.
    • Tendon elasticity influences the trade-off between force control and position control in muscles.

    Conclusions:

    • Tendon elasticity is a vital adaptation for efficient locomotion and enhanced performance in vertebrates.
    • The elastic properties of tendons provide significant biomechanical advantages.
    • Further research into tendon mechanics can inform fields ranging from robotics to sports science.