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Muscle action during locomotion: a comparative perspective.

I A Johnston1

  • 1Department of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|October 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Muscle properties are adapted for locomotion like running and flying. Elastic energy storage in tendons significantly saves metabolic energy, with strain being independent of frequency, size, and temperature.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Muscle Physiology
  • Comparative Physiology

Background:

  • Locomotion in animals involves complex muscle-tendon dynamics.
  • Striated muscles operate through cycles of lengthening and shortening during exercise.
  • Elastic energy storage and recovery by tendons play a crucial role in locomotion efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between striated muscle properties and their functional demands during various forms of locomotion (running, swimming, flying).
  • To analyze the influence of muscle activation timing and elastic structures on force development.
  • To understand the energetic costs of locomotion across different animal sizes and movement frequencies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of muscle force development in relation to length-change cycles.
  • Examination of elastic strain energy storage and recovery in tendons (apodema in insects).
  • Comparison of muscle stress and energetic costs across different animal sizes and locomotory behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Elastic strain energy storage in tendons significantly reduces metabolic energy expenditure.
  • Muscle strain is independent of locomotory frequency, body size, and muscle temperature.
  • Locomotory cycle frequency increases with speed and is inversely proportional to body size, affecting strain rate.
  • Peak muscle stress during steady running is approximately one-third of maximum isometric stress (P0).
  • Smaller animals exhibit higher mass-specific energy consumption due to faster muscle activation/deactivation rates.
  • Mass-specific cost of locomotion is comparable across diverse animal architectures when normalized for force production and stride frequency.

Conclusions:

  • Striated muscle properties are finely tuned to the mechanical demands of locomotion.
  • Tendons act as crucial elastic energy reservoirs, optimizing metabolic efficiency.
  • Body size and speed significantly influence strain rates and energetic costs, with smaller animals facing higher metabolic demands per unit mass.

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