Red and white muscle activity and kinematics of the escape response of the bluegill sunfish during swimming

Summary We quantified midline kinematics with synchronized electromyograms (emgs) from the red and white muscles on both sides of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) during escape behaviors which were elicited from fish both at a standstill and during steady speed swimming. Analyses of variance determined whether or not kinematic and emg variables differed significantly between muscle fiber types, among longitudinal positions, and between swimming versus standstill trials.At a given longitudinal location, both the red and white muscle were usually activated synchronously during both stages of the escape behavior. Stage 1 emg onsets were synchronous; however, the mean durations of stage 1 emgs showed a significant increase posteriorly from about 11 to 15 ms. Stage 2 emgs had significant posterior propagation, but the duration of the stage 2 emgs was constant (17 ms). Posterior emgs from both stages occurred during lengthening of the contractile tissue (as indicated by lateral bending). Steady swimming activity was confined to red muscle bursts which were propagated posteriorly and had significant posterior decrease in duration from about 50% to 37% of a cycle. Fish performed escape responses during all phases of the steady swimming motor pattern. All kinematic events were propagated posteriorly. Furthermore, no distinct kinematic event corresponded to the time intervals of the stage 1 and 2 emgs. The rate of propagation of kinematic events was always slower than that of the muscle activity. The phase relationship between lateral displacement and lateral bending also changed along the length of the fish. Escape responses performed during swimming averaged smaller amplitudes of stage 2 posterior lateral displacement; however, most other kinematic and emg variables did not vary significantly between these two treatments.Abbreviations A angle of lateral flexion (bending) of midline at a single point in time - A1, A2 change in A from T₀ to T₁ and from T₁ to T₂ - AMX maximal lateral flexion concave towards the side of the stage 1 emg - AMXR equals AMX minus A at T₀ - AT1, AT2 lateral flexion at T₁ and T₂ - DUR1, DUR2 durations of stage 1 and stage 2 emgs - emg electromyogram - ON2 onset time of stage 2 emg - RELDUR relative duration of steady swimming emg - T₀, T₁, T₂ times of stage 1 emg onset, latest stage 1 emg offset and latest stage 2 emg offset standardized such that T₀ = 0 - TAMX, TAMN, TYMX times of maximal lateral flexion, no lateral flexion and maximum lateral displacement - Y1, Y2 amounts of lateral displacement from T₀ to T₁ and from T₁ to T₂ - YMXR relative amount of lateral displacement from T₀ to TYMX     

How swimming fish use slow and fast muscle fibers: implications for models of vertebrate muscle recruitment

We quantified the intensity and duration of electromyograms (emgs) from the red and white axial muscles in five bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) which performed three categories of behavior including steady swimming and burst and glide swimming at moderate and rapid speeds. Steady swimming (at 2 lengths/s) involved exclusively red muscle activity (mean posterior emg duration = 95 ms), whereas unsteady swimming utilized red and white fibers with two features of fiber type recruitment previously undescribed for any ectothermic vertebrate locomotor muscle. First, for moderate speed swimming, the timing of red and white activity differed significantly with the average onset time of white lagging behind that of red by approximately 40 ms. The durations of these white emgs were shorter than those of the red emgs (posterior mean = 82 ms) because offset times were effectively synchronous. Second, compared to steady and moderate speed unsteady swimming, the intensity of red activity during rapid unsteady swimming decreased while the intensity of white muscle activity (mean white emg duration = 33 ms) increased. Decreased red activity associated with increased white activity differs from the general pattern of vertebrate muscle recruitment in which faster fiber types are recruited in addition to, but not to the exclusion of, slower fiber types.     

四种灵长类肘关节的生物力学研究

对懒猴、猕猴、叶猴和长臂猿的肘关节形态与功能和前臂伸、屈肌肌肉电生理的研究结果表明,随着上肢运动功能的加强,肘关节的灵活性亦相应增大。猕猴各肌的肌电活动相对较弱,肘关节的结构明显不同于其它3个种,表现出对四足型运动和维持关节稳定性的适应特点。叶猴肘关节的形态结构和前臂各肌的肌电活动类似于长臂猿,表现出与臂摆荡有关的活动特点。对前臂伸、屈肌有关指数的判别分析表明,与骨骼相比,4个种的前臂各肌的形态差异明显较大。肱肌的近侧起点指数。肱桡肌的止点指数和肱三头肌内侧头的起点指数可作为4个种的鉴定特征。     

Rotator cuff muscle function and its relation to scapular morphology in apes

It is widely held that many differences among primate species in scapular morphology can be functionally related to differing demands on the shoulder associated with particular locomotor habits. This perspective is largely based on broad scale studies, while more narrow comparisons of scapular form often fail to follow predictions based on inferred differences in shoulder function. For example, the ratio of supraspinous fossa/infraspinous fossa size in apes is commonly viewed as an indicator of the importance of overhead use of the forelimb, yet paradoxically, the African apes, the most terrestrial of the great apes, have higher scapular fossa ratios than the more suspensory orangutan. The recent discovery of several nearly complete early hominin scapular specimens, and their apparent morphological affinities to scapulae of orangutans and gorillas rather than chimpanzees, has led to renewed interest in the comparative analysis of human and extant ape scapular form. To facilitate the functional interpretation of differences in ape scapulae, particularly in regard to relative scapular fossa size, we used electromyography (EMG) to document the activity patterns in all four rotator cuff muscles in orangutans and gibbons, comparing the results with previously published data for chimpanzees.     

Muscles within muscles: the neuromotor control of intra-muscular segments

The aim of this investigation was to anatomically identify, and then determine the function of, individual segments within the human deltoid muscle. The anatomical structure of the deltoid was determined through dissection and/or observation of the shoulder girdles of 11 male cadavers (aged 65–84 years). These results indicate that the deltoid consists of seven anatomical segments (D1–D7) based upon the distinctive arrangement of each segment's origin and insertion. Radiographic analysis of a cadaveric shoulder joint suggested that only the postero-medial segment D7 has a line of action directed below the shoulder joint's axis of rotation. The functional role of each individual segment was then determined utilising an electromyographic (EMG) technique. Seven miniature (1 mm active plate; 7 mm interelectrode distance) bipolar surface electrodes were positioned over the proximal portion of each segment's muscle belly in 18 male and female subjects (18–30 years). EMG waveforms were then recorded during the production of rapid isometric shoulder abduction and adduction force impulses with the shoulder joint in 40 degrees of abduction in the plane of the scapula. Each subject randomly performed 15 abduction and 15 adduction isometric force impulses following a short familiarisation period. All subjects received visual feed back on the duration and amplitude of each isometric force impulse produced via a visual force-time display which compared subject performance to a criterion force-time curve. Movement time was 400 ms (time-to-peak isometric force) at an intensity level of 50% maximal voluntary contraction. Temporal and intensity analyses of the EMG waveforms, as well as temporal analysis of the isometric force impulses, revealed the neuromotor control strategies utilised by the CNS to control the activity of each muscle segment. The results showed that segmental neuromotor control strategies differ across the breadth of the muscle and that individual segments of the deltoid can be identified as having either “prime mover”, “synergist”, “stabiliser” or “antagonist” functions; functional classifications normally associated with whole muscle function. Therefore, it was concluded that the CNS can “fine tune” the activity of at least six discrete segments within the human deltoid muscle to efficiently meet the demands of the imposed motor task. Accepted: 15 December 1997     

Patterns of hind limb motor output during walking in the salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus,with comparisons to other tetrapods

Based on similarity of motor patterns of lizards, crocodiles, birds and mammals, various authors have concluded that a number of homologous muscles across these taxa demonstrate neuromuscular conservatism. This hypothesis remains untested for more basal taxa. Therefore, a quantitative electromyographic study of the hind limb during treadmill walking (mean speed of 0.75 SVL/s) in the salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus was undertaken. Muscles located ventrally on the hind limb become active just before foot placement on the substrate, and maintain activity through the first half of the stance phase. Dorsally located muscles begin activity at or just before the start of the swing phase, and fire through the first half of swing. Several muscles showed a secondary EMG burst during the stride. The second burst in most ventral muscles occurred in late stance. In all dorsal muscles with double bursts, the second burst occurred in the middle of stance. Comparison of electromyographic onset and offset values for Dicamptodon to those for presumed homologues in other tetrapods reveals similarity in activity patterns for all ventral and two dorsal muscles despite anatomical rearrangements, supporting the hypothesis of neuromuscular conservatism for some muscles but not others.Abbreviations BF biceps femoris muscle - CDF caudofemoralis muscle - CPIT caudalipuboischiotibialis muscle - Dist distal - EDC extensor digitorum communis muscle - EMG electromyogram - EXF extensor cruris et tarsi fibularis muscle - EXT extensor cruris tibialis muscle - FMFB femorofibularis muscle - FPC flexor primordialis communis muscle - Gastroc gastrocnemius muscle - ILFB iliofibularis muscle - ILFM iliofemoralis muscle - ILTA extensor iliotibialis pars anterior muscle - ILTP extensor iliotibialis pars posterior muscle - ISC ischiocaudalis muscle - ISF ischioflexorius muscle - ISFM ischiofemoralis muscle - ITCR iliotrochantericus cranialis muscle - ITM iliotrochantericus medius muscle - MG medial gastrocnemius muscle - PFM pubifemoralis muscle - PIFE puboischiofemoralis externus muscle - PIFI puboischiofemoralis internus muscle - PIT puboischiotibialis muscle - Prox proximal - PTB pubotibialis muscle - Sol soleus muscle - ST semitendinosus muscle - SVL snout-vent length     

Time–frequency and principal-component methods for the analysis of EMGs recorded during a mildly fatiguing exercise on a cycle ergometer

Electromyographic signals contain the information on muscle activity and have to be frequently averaged, compared, classified or details need to be extracted. A time–frequency analysis, based on wavelets, was previously presented. The analysis transformed an EMG signal into an EMG-intensity-pattern showing the intensities at any point in time for the frequencies filtered out by the wavelets. The purpose of the present study was:

1. to define and apply a new EMG-pattern-space for the analysis of EMG-intensity-patterns; and

2. to determine the variation of EMG-intensity-patterns while getting mildly fatigued by cycling on a cycle-ergometer.

The coordinates spanning the pattern space were principal components of the measured EMG-intensity-patterns. A point in pattern-space thus represented an EMG-intensity-pattern. Fatigue resulted in points moving along a line in pattern space. The line was characterized by an intercept at time 0 and a slope. Thus mild fatigue caused a shift from an initial intensity-pattern representing the intercept to a final intensity-pattern adding gradually larger amounts of the pattern representing the slope. The intensity-pattern of the slope revealed the physiologically important individual strategies for coping with mild fatigue. Changes were observed at different times and at different frequencies during the cycling movement.     

Predicting muscle forces in gait from EMG signals and musculotendon kinematics

An EMG-driven muscle model for determining muscle force-time histories during gait is presented. The model, based on Hill's equation (1938), incorporates morphological data and accounts for changes in musculotendon length, velocity, and the level of muscle excitation for both concentric and eccentric contractions. Musculotendon kinematics were calculated using three-dimensional cinematography with a model of the musculoskeletal system. Muscle force-length-EMG relations were established from slow isokinetic calibrations. Walking muscle force-time histories were determined for two subjects. Joint moments calculated from the predicted muscle forces were compared with moments calculated using a linked segment, inverse dynamics approach. Moment curve correlations ranged from r = 0.72 to R = 0.97 and the root mean square (RMS) differences were from 10 to 20 Nm. Expressed as a relative RMS, the moment differences ranged from a low of 23% at the ankle to a high of 72% at the hip. No single reason for the differences between the two moment curves could be identified. Possible explanations discussed include the linear EMG-to-force assumption and how well the EMG-to-force calibration represented excitation for the whole muscle during gait, assumptions incorporated in the muscle modeling procedure, and errors inherent in validating joint moments predicted from the model to moments calculated using linked segment, inverse dynamics. The closeness with which the joint moment curves matched in the present study supports using the modeling approach proposed to determine muscle forces in gait.     

The vastus lateralis neuromuscular activity during all-out cycling exercise

ObjectiveThe objective of this work was to study modifications in motor control through surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity during a very short all-out cycling exercise.MethodsTwelve male cyclists (age 23 ± 4 years) participated in this study. After a warm-up period, each subject performed three all-out cycling exercises of 6 s separated by 2 min of complete rest. This protocol was repeated three times with a minimum of 2 days between each session. The braking torque imposed on cycling motion was 19 N m. The sEMG of the vastus lateralis was recorded during the first seven contractions of the sprint. Time–frequency analysis of sEMG was performed using continuous wavelet transform. The mean power frequency (MPF, qualitative modifications in the recruitment of motor units) and signal energy (a quantitative indicator of modifications in the motor units recruitment) were computed for the frequency range 10–500 Hz.ResultssEMG energy increased (P ? 0.05) between contraction number 1 and 2, decreased (P ? 0.05) between contraction number 2 and 3 then stabilized between contraction number 3 and 7 during the all-out test. MPF increased (P ? 0.05) during the all-out test. This increase was more marked during the first two contractions.ConclusionsThe decrease in energy and the increase in the sEMG MPF suggest a large spatial recruitment of motor units (MUs) at the beginning of the sprint followed by a preferential recruitment of faster MUs at the end of the sprint, respectively.     

Function of dorsal fins in bamboo shark during steady swimming

To gain insight into the function of the dorsal fins in white-spotted bamboo sharks (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscyillidae) during steady swimming, data on three-dimensional kinematics and electromyographic recordings were collected. Bamboo sharks were induced to swim at 0.5 and 0.75 body lengths per second in a laminar flow tank. Displacement, lag and angles were analyzed from high-speed video images. Onset, offset, duration, duty cycle and asynchrony index were calculated from three muscle implants on each side of each dorsal fin. The dorsal fins were displaced more laterally than the undulating body. In addition, the dorsal tips had larger lateral displacement than the trailing edges. Increased speed was accompanied by an increase in tail beat frequency with constant tail beat amplitude. However, lateral displacement of the fins and duration of muscle bursts remained relatively constant with increased speed. The range of lateral motion was greater for the second dorsal fin (mean 33.3°) than for the first dorsal fin (mean 28.4°). Bending within the fin was greater for the second dorsal fin (mean 43.8°) than for the first dorsal fin (mean 30.8°). Muscle onset and offset among implants on the same side of each dorsal fin was similar. Three-dimensional conformation of the dorsal fins was caused by interactions between muscle activity, material properties, and incident flow. Alternating bilateral activity occurred in both dorsal fins, further supporting the active role of these hydrofoils in thrust production during steady swimming. The dorsal fins in bamboo sharks are capable of thrust production during steady swimming and do not appear to function as stabilizing structures.     

Muscle architecture of the upper limb in the orangutan

We dissected the left upper limb of a female orangutan and systematically recorded muscle mass, fascicle length, and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), in order to quantitatively clarify the unique muscle architecture of the upper limb of the orangutan. Comparisons of the musculature of the dissected orangutan with corresponding published chimpanzee data demonstrated that in the orangutan, the elbow flexors, notably M. brachioradialis, tend to exhibit greater PCSAs. Moreover, the digital II-V flexors in the forearm, such as M. flexor digitorum superficialis and M. flexor digitorum profundus, tend to have smaller PCSA as a result of their relatively longer fascicles. Thus, in the orangutan, the elbow flexors demonstrate a higher potential for force production, whereas the forearm muscles allow a greater range of wrist joint mobility. The differences in the force-generating capacity in the upper limb muscles of the two species might reflect functional specialization of muscle architecture in the upper limb of the orangutan for living in arboreal environments.     

Comparison of surface electromyography and myotonometric measurements during voluntary isometric contractions

Objectives: Muscle stiffness increases during muscle contraction. The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of the correlation between myotonometric measurements of muscle stiffness and surface electromyography (sEMG) measurements during various levels of voluntary isometric contractions of the biceps brachii muscle. Subjects: Eight subjects (four female; four male), with mean age of 30.6±8.23 years, volunteered to participate in this study. Methods: Myotonometer and sEMG measurements were taken simultaneously from the right biceps brachii muscle. Data were obtained: (1) at rest, (2) while the subject held a 15 lb (6.8 kg) weight isometrically and, (3) during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Myotonometer force–displacement curves (amount of tissue displacement to a given unit of force applied perpendicular to the muscle) were compared with sEMG measurements using Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficients. Results: Myotonometer and sEMG measurement correlations ranged from −0.70 to −0.90. The strongest correlations to sEMG were from Myotonometer force measurements between 1.00 and 2.00 kg. Conclusions: Myotonometer and sEMG measurements were highly correlated. Tissue stiffness, as measured by the Myotonometer, appears capable of assessing changes in muscle activation levels.