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Related Experiment Videos

Structure and function of tuna tail tendons.

Robert E Shadwick1, H Scott Rapoport, Joelle M Fenger

  • 1Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0202, USA. rshadwick@ucsd.edu

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
|December 18, 2002
PubMed
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Tuna caudal tendons, similar to mammal leg tendons, efficiently transfer muscle power. However, they do not function as elastic energy storage during swimming due to lower breaking strength and minimal strain.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanical engineering
  • Comparative physiology
  • Marine biology

Background:

  • Tuna caudal tendons connect swimming muscles to the tail fin.
  • These tendons share structural similarities with terrestrial vertebrate tendons, like those in mammal legs.
  • Fish collagen, including tuna's, exhibits high solubility due to specific cross-links.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural and mechanical properties of tuna caudal tendons.
  • To compare tuna tendon collagen with mammalian tendon collagen.
  • To determine the functional role of tuna tendons during swimming.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical analysis of tuna tendon and skin collagen composition.
  • Mechanical testing of excised tendons under load cycling.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measurement of tendon strain during various swimming conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Tuna tendon collagen is a Type I collagen heterotrimer, typical for vertebrates.
    • Tuna tendons exhibit high modulus of elasticity (1.3 GPa) and resilience (90%), comparable to mammal leg tendons.
    • Tendon breaking strength is lower than in mammals, and strains during swimming are minimal (<1.5%).

    Conclusions:

    • Tuna caudal tendons are robust and mechanically efficient for power transfer.
    • Despite similarities to mammalian tendons, they do not function as elastic energy storage elements.
    • The tendons are optimized for power transmission rather than elastic recoil during swimming.