scholarly journals Elastic energy storage in the shoulder and the evolution of high-speed throwing in Homo

Nature ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 498 (7455) ◽  
pp. 483-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil T. Roach ◽  
Madhusudhan Venkadesan ◽  
Michael J. Rainbow ◽  
Daniel E. Lieberman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
High Speed

scholarly journals Evidence for a vertebrate catapult: elastic energy storage in the plantaris tendon during frog jumping

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry C. Astley ◽  
Thomas J. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Angular Acceleration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Joint Motion ◽  
Joint Movement ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Muscle Fascicle ◽  
Muscle Shortening

Anuran jumping is one of the most powerful accelerations in vertebrate locomotion. Several species are hypothesized to use a catapult-like mechanism to store and rapidly release elastic energy, producing power outputs far beyond the capability of muscle. Most evidence for this mechanism comes from measurements of whole-body power output; the decoupling of joint motion and muscle shortening expected in a catapult-like mechanism has not been demonstrated. We used high-speed marker-based biplanar X-ray cinefluoroscopy to quantify plantaris muscle fascicle strain and ankle joint motion in frogs in order to test for two hallmarks of a catapult mechanism: (i) shortening of fascicles prior to joint movement (during tendon stretch), and (ii) rapid joint movement during the jump without rapid muscle-shortening (during tendon recoil). During all jumps, muscle fascicles shortened by an average of 7.8 per cent (54% of total strain) prior to joint movement, stretching the tendon. The subsequent period of initial joint movement and high joint angular acceleration occurred with minimal muscle fascicle length change, consistent with the recoil of the elastic tendon. These data support the plantaris longus tendon as a site of elastic energy storage during frog jumping, and demonstrate that catapult mechanisms may be employed even in sub-maximal jumps.

Deactivation rate and shortening velocity as determinants of contractile frequency

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. R223-R230 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Adductor Muscle ◽  
Stride Frequency ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Shortening Velocity ◽  
Thermal Dependence ◽  
Jet Propulsion

The kinetic properties of muscle that could influence locomotor frequency include rate of activation, rate of cross-bridge "attachment", intrinsic shortening velocity, and rate of deactivation. The latter two mechanisms are examined using examples from high-speed running in lizards and escape swimming in scallops. During running, inertial loading and elastic energy storage probably mitigate the effects of thermal alterations in intrinsic muscle shortening velocity. The result is a rather low thermal dependence of stride frequency over a 15-20 degree C temperature range. However, at lower temperatures, the longer times required for deactivation cause the thermal dependence of frequency to increase greatly. Scallops use a single muscle to swim by jet propulsion. In vivo shortening velocity in these animals also shows a low thermal dependence. As with high-speed running, the mechanics of jet propulsion may limit the effects of thermally induced changes in intrinsic shortening velocity. The largest thermal effect during swimming is on the initial phase of valve opening. The effects of temperature on the rate of deactivation of the adductor muscle could play an important role in limiting reextension of the muscle, which is dependent on elastic energy storage in the hinge ligament. These examples illustrate that the relative importance of various intrinsic contractile properties in controlling locomotor performance depends on the mechanics of the movements.

scholarly journals The Cross-Bridge Spring: Can Cool Muscles Store Elastic Energy?

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 340 (6137) ◽  
pp. 1217-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. George ◽  
T. C. Irving ◽  
C. D. Williams ◽  
T. L. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
Molecular Motors ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Elastic Strain Energy ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Cross Bridges

Muscles not only generate force. They may act as springs, providing energy storage to drive locomotion. Although extensible myofilaments are implicated as sites of energy storage, we show that intramuscular temperature gradients may enable molecular motors (cross-bridges) to store elastic strain energy. By using time-resolved small-angle x-ray diffraction paired with in situ measurements of mechanical energy exchange in flight muscles of Manduca sexta, we produced high-speed movies of x-ray equatorial reflections, indicating cross-bridge association with myofilaments. A temperature gradient within the flight muscle leads to lower cross-bridge cycling in the cooler regions. Those cross-bridges could elastically return energy at the extrema of muscle lengthening and shortening, helping drive cyclic wing motions. These results suggest that cross-bridges can perform functions other than contraction, acting as molecular links for elastic energy storage.

scholarly journals In vivo muscle force and elastic energy storage during steady-speed hopping of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii)

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (9) ◽  
pp. 1829-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Biewener ◽  
R Baudinette
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Flexor Digitorum Longus ◽  
Foot Placement ◽  
Flexor Digitorum

In order to evaluate the role of elastic energy recovery in the hopping of macropodids, in vivo measurements of muscle­tendon forces using buckle force transducers attached to the tendons of the gastrocnemius (G), plantaris (PL) and flexor digitorum longus (FDL) of tammar wallabies were made as the animals hopped on a treadmill at speeds ranging from 2.1 to 6.3 m s-1. These muscles and tendons constitute the main structures that are most important in energy storage and recovery. Electromyographic recordings from the lateral gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles, together with high-speed films (200 frames s-1) and video (60 fields s-1), were also used to correlate muscle activation and kinematic patterns of limb movement with force development. On the basis of in situ calibrations of the buckle transducers, we found that muscle forces and elastic energy storage increased with increased hopping speed in all three muscle­tendon units. Elastic energy recovery reached a maximum of 25 % of metabolic energy expenditure at 6.3 m s-1 and is probably greater than this at higher speeds. Force sharing among the three muscles was consistently maintained over this range of speeds in terms of recruitment. Although forces and stresses were generally comparable within the gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles, maximal tendon stresses were considerably greater in the gastrocnemius, because of its smaller cross-sectional area (peak muscle stress: 227 versus 262 kPa; peak tendon stress: 36 versus 32 MPa, G versus PL). As a result, energy storage was greatest in the gastrocnemius tendon despite its much shorter length, which limits its volume and, hence, energy storage capacity, compared with PL and FDL tendons. Forces and stresses (17 MPa maximum) developed within the FDL tendon were consistently much lower than those for the other two tendons. Peak stresses in these three tendons indicated safety factors of 3.0 for G, 3.3 for PL and 6.0 for FDL. The lower stresses developed within the tendons of the plantaris and, especially, the flexor digitorum longus may indicate the need to maintain sufficient stiffness for phalangeal control of foot placement, at the expense of reduced strain energy recovery.

Jumping, Climbing and Suspensory Locomotion

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
The Core ◽  
Power Amplification ◽  
Core Concepts

Jumping, climbing and suspensory locomotion are specialized locomotor mechanisms used on land and in the air. Jumping is used for rapid launches from substrates. Climbing and suspensory movements enable locomotion up, under and through vertically-structured habitats, such as forests. Elastic energy storage is particularly important for jumping and catapult systems and we address the core concepts of power amplification that are exemplified in nature’s extreme jumpers. We examine the diverse mechanisms of attachment that characterize animals that can grasp and adhere to a diversity of structures. We conclude the chapter by examining the integration of biological capabilities with engineering innovations in these systems.

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