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Haug WB, Pain MTG. Using a simple model to systematically examine the influence of force-velocity profile and power on vertical jump performance with different constraints. Sports Biomech 2024:1-28. [PMID: 38739038 DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2024.2351615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Power, and recently force-velocity (F-V) profiling, are well-researched and oft cited critical components for sports performance but both are still debated; some would say misused. A neat, applied formulation of power and linear F-V in the literature is practically useful but there is a dearth of fundamental explanations of how power and F-V interact with human and environmental constraints. To systematically explore the interactions of a linear F-V profile, peak power, gravity, mass, range of motion (ROM), and initial activation conditions, a forward dynamics point mass model of vertical jumping was parameterised from an athlete. With no constraints and for a given peak power, F-V favouring higher velocity performed better, but were impacted more under real-world conditions of gravity and finite ROM meaning the better F-V was dependent on constraints. Increasing peak power invariably increased jump height but improvement was dependent on the initial F-V and if it was altered by changing maximal force or velocity. When mass was changed along with power and F-V there was a non-linear interaction and jump improvement could be almost as large for a F-V change as an increase in power. An ideal F-V profile cannot be identified without knowledge of mass and ROM.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Haug
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Matthew T G Pain
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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2
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Druelle F, Leti I, Bokika Ngawolo JC, Narat V. Vertical climbing in free-ranging bonobos: An exploratory study integrating locomotor performance and substrate compliance. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:e24894. [PMID: 38180148 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ecological factors and body size shape animal movement and adaptation. Large primates such as bonobos excel in navigating the demanding substrates of arboreal habitats. However, current approaches lack comprehensive assessment of climbing performance in free-ranging individuals, limiting our understanding of locomotor adaptations. This study aims to explore climbing performance in free-ranging bonobos and how substrate properties affect their behavior. METHODS We collected data on the climbing performance of habituated bonobos, Pan paniscus, in the Bolobo Territory, Democratic Republic of Congo. We analyzed 46 climbing bouts (12 ascents, 34 descents) while moving on vertical substrates of varying diameter and compliance levels. This study assessed the average speed, peak acceleration, resting postures, and transitions between climbing and other locomotor modes. RESULTS During climbing sequences and transitions, bonobos mitigate speed variations. They also exhibit regular pauses during climbing and show higher speeds during descent in contrast to their ascent. Regarding the influence of substrate properties, bonobos exhibit higher speed when ascending on thin and slightly flexible substrates, while they appear to achieve higher speeds when descending on large and stiff substrates, by using a "fire-pole slide" submode. DISCUSSION Bonobos demonstrate remarkable abilities for negotiating vertical substrates and substrate properties influence their performance. Our results support the idea that bonobos adopt a behavioral strategy that aligns with the notion of minimizing costs. Overall, the adoption of high velocities and the use of low-cost resting postures may reduce muscle fatigue. These aspects could represent important targets of selection to ensure ecological efficiency in bonobos.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Druelle
- Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique, UMR 7194, CNRS-MNHN-UPVD, Paris, France
- Functional Morphology Laboratory, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Innocent Leti
- NGO Mbou-Mon-Tour, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Victor Narat
- Eco-Anthropologie, UMR 7206, MNHN-CNRS-Univ. Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Bonobo Eco, Saint Brice sur Vienne, Vienne, France
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3
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O'Neill MC, Nagano A, Umberger BR. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the pelvis and lower limb of Australopithecus afarensis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:e24845. [PMID: 37671481 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Musculoskeletal modeling is a powerful approach for studying the biomechanics and energetics of locomotion. Australopithecus (A.) afarensis is among the best represented fossil hominins and provides critical information about the evolution of musculoskeletal design and locomotion in the hominin lineage. Here, we develop and evaluate a three-dimensional (3-D) musculoskeletal model of the pelvis and lower limb of A. afarensis for predicting muscle-tendon moment arms and moment-generating capacities across lower limb joint positions encompassing a range of locomotor behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 3-D musculoskeletal model of an adult A. afarensis pelvis and lower limb was developed based primarily on the A.L. 288-1 partial skeleton. The model includes geometric representations of bones, joints and 35 muscle-tendon units represented using 43 Hill-type muscle models. Two muscle parameter datasets were created from human and chimpanzee sources. 3-D muscle-tendon moment arms and isometric joint moments were predicted over a wide range of joint positions. RESULTS Predicted muscle-tendon moment arms generally agreed with skeletal metrics, and corresponded with human and chimpanzee models. Human and chimpanzee-based muscle parameterizations were similar, with some differences in maximum isometric force-producing capabilities. The model is amenable to size scaling from A.L. 288-1 to the larger KSD-VP-1/1, which subsumes a wide range of size variation in A. afarensis. DISCUSSION This model represents an important tool for studying the integrated function of the neuromusculoskeletal systems in A. afarensis. It is similar to current human and chimpanzee models in musculoskeletal detail, and will permit direct, comparative 3-D simulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C O'Neill
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| | - Akinori Nagano
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
| | - Brian R Umberger
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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4
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Boulinguez-Ambroise G, Dunham N, Phelps T, Mazonas T, Nguyen P, Bradley-Cronkwright M, Boyer DM, Yapuncich GS, Zeininger A, Schmitt D, Young JW. Jumping performance in tree squirrels: Insights into primate evolution. J Hum Evol 2023; 180:103386. [PMID: 37209637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Morphological traits suggesting powerful jumping abilities are characteristic of early crown primate fossils. Because tree squirrels lack certain 'primatelike' grasping features but frequently travel on the narrow terminal branches of trees, they make a viable extant model for an early stage of primate evolution. Here, we explore biomechanical determinants of jumping performance in the arboreal Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis, n = 3) as a greater understanding of the biomechanical strategies that squirrels use to modulate jumping performance could inform theories of selection for increased jumping ability during early primate evolution. We assessed vertical jumping performance by using instrumented force platforms upon which were mounted launching supports of various sizes, allowing us to test the influence of substrate diameter on jumping kinetics and performance. We used standard ergometric methods to quantify jumping parameters (e.g., takeoff velocity, total displacement, peak mechanical power) from force platform data during push-off. We found that tree squirrels display divergent mechanical strategies according to the type of substrate, prioritizing force production on flat ground versus center of mass displacement on narrower poles. As jumping represents a significant part of the locomotor behavior of most primates, we suggest that jumping from small arboreal substrates may have acted as a potential driver of the selection for elongated hindlimb segments in primates, allowing the center of mass to be accelerated over a longer distance-and thereby reducing the need for high substrate reaction forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Boulinguez-Ambroise
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4209 State Road 44, Rootstown, 44272, OH, USA.
| | - Noah Dunham
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 44109, OH, USA; Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, 44106, OH, USA
| | - Taylor Phelps
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4209 State Road 44, Rootstown, 44272, OH, USA
| | - Thomas Mazonas
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4209 State Road 44, Rootstown, 44272, OH, USA
| | - Peter Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4209 State Road 44, Rootstown, 44272, OH, USA
| | | | - Doug M Boyer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, 27708, NC, USA
| | - Gabriel S Yapuncich
- Medical Education Administration, Duke University School of Medicine, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, 27710, NC, USA
| | - Angel Zeininger
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, 27708, NC, USA
| | - Daniel Schmitt
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, 27708, NC, USA
| | - Jesse W Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4209 State Road 44, Rootstown, 44272, OH, USA
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Human and African ape myosin heavy chain content and the evolution of hominin skeletal muscle. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 281:111415. [PMID: 36931425 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Humans are unique among terrestrial mammals in our manner of walking and running, reflecting 7 to 8 Ma of musculoskeletal evolution since diverging with the genus Pan. One component of this is a shift in our skeletal muscle biology towards a predominance of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) I isoforms (i.e. slow fibers) across our pelvis and lower limbs, which distinguishes us from chimpanzees. Here, new MyHC data from 35 pelvis and hind limb muscles of a Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) are presented. These data are combined with a similar chimpanzee dataset to assess the MyHC I content of humans in comparison to African apes (chimpanzees and gorillas) and other terrestrial mammals. The responsiveness of human skeletal muscle to behavioral interventions is also compared to the human-African ape differential. Humans are distinct from African apes and among a small group of terrestrial mammals whose pelvis and hind/lower limb muscle is slow fiber dominant, on average. Behavioral interventions, including immobilization, bed rest, spaceflight and exercise, can induce modest decreases and increases in human MyHC I content (i.e. -9.3% to 2.3%, n = 2033 subjects), but these shifts are much smaller than the mean human-African ape differential (i.e. 31%). Taken together, these results indicate muscle fiber content is likely an evolvable trait under selection in the hominin lineage. As such, we highlight potential targets of selection in the genome (e.g. regions that regulate MyHC content) that may play an important role in hominin skeletal muscle evolution.
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Marino FE, Sibson BE, Lieberman DE. The evolution of human fatigue resistance. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:411-422. [PMID: 35552490 PMCID: PMC9197885 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01439-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Humans differ from African great apes in numerous respects, but the chief initial difference setting hominins on their unique evolutionary trajectory was habitual bipedalism. The two most widely supported selective forces for this adaptation are increased efficiency of locomotion and improved ability to feed in upright contexts. By 4 million years ago, hominins had evolved the ability to walk long distances but extreme selection for endurance capabilities likely occurred later in the genus Homo to help them forage, power scavenge and persistence hunt in hot, arid conditions. In this review we explore the hypothesis that to be effective long-distance walkers and especially runners, there would also have been a strong selective benefit among Homo to resist fatigue. Our hypothesis is that since fatigue is an important factor that limits the ability to perform endurance-based activities, fatigue resistance was likely an important target for selection during human evolution for improved endurance capabilities. We review the trade-offs between strength, power, and stamina in apes and Homo and discuss three biological systems that we hypothesize humans evolved adaptations for fatigue resistance: neurological, metabolic and thermoregulatory. We conclude that the evolution of endurance at the cost of strength and power likely also involved the evolution of mechanisms to resist fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank E Marino
- School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sport Science, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia.
| | - Benjamin E Sibson
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Daniel E Lieberman
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
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7
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Löffler L, Wölfer J, Gavrilei F, Nyakatura JA. Computational Modeling of Gluteus Medius Muscle Moment Arm in Caviomorph Rodents Reveals Ecomorphological Specializations. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:806314. [PMID: 35694234 PMCID: PMC9174681 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.806314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate musculoskeletal locomotion is realized through lever-arm systems. The instantaneous muscle moment arm (IMMA), which is expected to be under selective pressure and thus of interest for ecomorphological studies, is a key aspect of these systems. The IMMA changes with joint motion. It’s length change is technically difficult to acquire and has not been compared in a larger phylogenetic ecomorphological framework, yet. Usually, proxies such as osteological in-levers are used instead. We used 18 species of the ecologically diverse clade of caviomorph rodents to test whether its diversity is reflected in the IMMA of the hip extensor M. gluteus medius. A large IMMA is beneficial for torque generation; a small IMMA facilitates fast joint excursion. We expected large IMMAs in scansorial species, small IMMAs in fossorial species, and somewhat intermediate IMMAs in cursorial species, depending on the relative importance of acceleration and joint angular velocity. We modeled the IMMA over the entire range of possible hip extensions and applied macroevolutionary model comparison to selected joint poses. We also obtained the osteological in-lever of the M. gluteus medius to compare it to the IMMA. At little hip extension, the IMMA was largest on average in scansorial species, while the other two lifestyles were similar. We interpret this as an emphasized need for increased hip joint torque when climbing on inclines, especially in a crouched posture. Cursorial species might benefit from fast joint excursion, but their similarity with the fossorial species is difficult to interpret and could hint at ecological similarities. At larger extension angles, cursorial species displayed the second-largest IMMAs after scansorial species. The larger IMMA optimum results in powerful hip extension which coincides with forward acceleration at late stance beneficial for climbing, jumping, and escaping predators. This might be less relevant for a fossorial lifestyle. The results of the in-lever only matched the IMMA results of larger hip extension angles, suggesting that the modeling of the IMMA provides more nuanced insights into adaptations of musculoskeletal lever-arm systems than this osteological proxy.
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8
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van Beesel J, Hutchinson JR, Hublin JJ, Melillo SM. Exploring the functional morphology of the Gorilla shoulder through musculoskeletal modelling. J Anat 2021; 239:207-227. [PMID: 33629406 PMCID: PMC8197971 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal computer models allow us to quantitatively relate morphological features to biomechanical performance. In non‐human apes, certain morphological features have long been linked to greater arm abduction potential and increased arm‐raising performance, compared to humans. Here, we present the first musculoskeletal model of a western lowland gorilla shoulder to test some of these long‐standing proposals. Estimates of moment arms and moments of the glenohumeral abductors (deltoid, supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles) over arm abduction were conducted for the gorilla model and a previously published human shoulder model. Contrary to previous assumptions, we found that overall glenohumeral abduction potential is similar between Gorilla and Homo. However, gorillas differ by maintaining high abduction moment capacity with the arm raised above horizontal. This difference is linked to a disparity in soft tissue properties, indicating that scapular morphological features like a cranially oriented scapular spine and glenoid do not enhance the abductor function of the gorilla glenohumeral muscles. A functional enhancement due to differences in skeletal morphology was only demonstrated in the gorilla supraspinatus muscle. Contrary to earlier ideas linking a more obliquely oriented scapular spine to greater supraspinatus leverage, our results suggest that increased lateral projection of the greater tubercle of the humerus accounts for the greater biomechanical performance in Gorilla. This study enhances our understanding of the evolution of gorilla locomotion, as well as providing greater insight into the general interaction between anatomy, function and locomotor biomechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia van Beesel
- Department of Human Evolution, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure & Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | - Jean-Jacques Hublin
- Department of Human Evolution, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie M Melillo
- Department of Human Evolution, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Druelle F, Schoonaert K, Aerts P, Nauwelaerts S, Stevens JMG, D'Août K. Segmental morphometrics of bonobos (Pan paniscus): are they really different from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)? J Anat 2018; 233:843-853. [PMID: 30294787 PMCID: PMC6231171 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The inertial properties of body segments reflect performance and locomotor habits in primates. While Pan paniscus is generally described as more gracile, lighter in body mass, and as having relatively longer and heavier hindlimbs than Pan troglodytes, both species exhibit very similar patterns of (quadrupedal and bipedal) kinematics, but show slightly different locomotor repertoires. We used a geometric model to estimate the inertial properties for all body segments (i.e. head, trunk, upper and lower arms, hand, thigh, shank and foot) using external length and diameter measurements of 12 anaesthetized bonobos (eight adults and four immatures). We also calculated whole limb inertial properties. When we compared absolute and relative segment morphometric and inertial variables between bonobos and chimpanzees, we found that adult bonobos are significantly lighter than adult chimpanzees. The bonobo is also shorter in head length, upper and lower arm lengths, and foot length, and is generally lighter in most absolute segment mass values (except head and hand). In contrast, the bonobo has a longer trunk. When scaled relative to body mass, most differences disappear between the two species. Only the longer trunk and the shorter head of the bonobo remain apparent, as well as the lighter thigh compared with the chimpanzee. We found similar values of natural pendular periods of the limbs in both species, despite differences in absolute limb lengths, masses, mass centres (for the hindlimb) and moments of inertia. While our data contradict the commonly accepted view that bonobos have relatively longer and heavier hindlimbs than chimpanzees, they are consistent with the observed similarities in the quadrupedal and bipedal kinematics between these species. The morphological differences between both species are more subtle than those previously described from postcranial osteological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Druelle
- Laboratory for Functional MorphologyUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
| | - Kirsten Schoonaert
- Laboratory for Functional MorphologyUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and ConservationAntwerpBelgium
| | - Peter Aerts
- Laboratory for Functional MorphologyUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
- Department of Movement and Sports SciencesUniversity of GhentGentBelgium
| | - Sandra Nauwelaerts
- Laboratory for Functional MorphologyUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and ConservationAntwerpBelgium
| | - Jeroen M. G. Stevens
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and ConservationAntwerpBelgium
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Kristiaan D'Août
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology GroupUniversity of AntwerpWilrijkBelgium
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Chirchir H. Trabecular Bone Fraction Variation in Modern Humans, Fossil Hominins and Other Primates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 302:288-305. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Habiba Chirchir
- Department of Biological SciencesMarshall University Huntington West Virginia
- Human Origins ProgramNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C
- Department of AnthropologyNew York University New York New York
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11
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O'Neill MC, Umberger BR, Holowka NB, Larson SG, Reiser PJ. Chimpanzee super strength and human skeletal muscle evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7343-7348. [PMID: 28652350 PMCID: PMC5514706 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619071114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since at least the 1920s, it has been reported that common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) differ from humans in being capable of exceptional feats of "super strength," both in the wild and in captive environments. A mix of anecdotal and more controlled studies provides some support for this view; however, a critical review of available data suggests that chimpanzee mass-specific muscular performance is a more modest 1.5 times greater than humans on average. Hypotheses for the muscular basis of this performance differential have included greater isometric force-generating capabilities, faster maximum shortening velocities, and/or a difference in myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform content in chimpanzee relative to human skeletal muscle. Here, we show that chimpanzee muscle is similar to human muscle in its single-fiber contractile properties, but exhibits a much higher fraction of MHC II isoforms. Unlike humans, chimpanzee muscle is composed of ∼67% fast-twitch fibers (MHC IIa+IId). Computer simulations of species-specific whole-muscle models indicate that maximum dynamic force and power output is 1.35 times higher in a chimpanzee muscle than a human muscle of similar size. Thus, the superior mass-specific muscular performance of chimpanzees does not stem from differences in isometric force-generating capabilities or maximum shortening velocities-as has long been suggested-but rather is due in part to differences in MHC isoform content and fiber length. We propose that the hominin lineage experienced a decline in maximum dynamic force and power output during the past 7-8 million years in response to selection for repetitive, low-cost contractile behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C O'Neill
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004;
| | - Brian R Umberger
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Nicholas B Holowka
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Susan G Larson
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Peter J Reiser
- Division of Biosciences, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, OH 43210
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12
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Ruff CB, Burgess ML, Ketcham RA, Kappelman J. Limb Bone Structural Proportions and Locomotor Behavior in A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy"). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166095. [PMID: 27902687 PMCID: PMC5130205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While there is broad agreement that early hominins practiced some form of terrestrial bipedality, there is also evidence that arboreal behavior remained a part of the locomotor repertoire in some taxa, and that bipedal locomotion may not have been identical to that of modern humans. It has been difficult to evaluate such evidence, however, because of the possibility that early hominins retained primitive traits (such as relatively long upper limbs) of little contemporaneous adaptive significance. Here we examine bone structural properties of the femur and humerus in the Australopithecus afarensis A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy", 3.2 Myr) that are known to be developmentally plastic, and compare them with other early hominins, modern humans, and modern chimpanzees. Cross-sectional images were obtained from micro-CT scans of the original specimens and used to derive section properties of the diaphyses, as well as superior and inferior cortical thicknesses of the femoral neck. A.L. 288-1 shows femoral/humeral diaphyseal strength proportions that are intermediate between those of modern humans and chimpanzees, indicating more mechanical loading of the forelimb than in modern humans, and by implication, a significant arboreal locomotor component. Several features of the proximal femur in A.L. 288-1 and other australopiths, including relative femoral head size, distribution of cortical bone in the femoral neck, and cross-sectional shape of the proximal shaft, support the inference of a bipedal gait pattern that differed slightly from that of modern humans, involving more lateral deviation of the body center of mass over the support limb, which would have entailed increased cost of terrestrial locomotion. There is also evidence consistent with increased muscular strength among australopiths in both the forelimb and hind limb, possibly reflecting metabolic trade-offs between muscle and brain development during hominin evolution. Together these findings imply significant differences in both locomotor behavior and ecology between australopiths and later Homo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B. Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - M. Loring Burgess
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Ketcham
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - John Kappelman
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Texas Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
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13
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Bozek K, Wei Y, Yan Z, Liu X, Xiong J, Sugimoto M, Tomita M, Pääbo S, Pieszek R, Sherwood CC, Hof PR, Ely JJ, Steinhauser D, Willmitzer L, Bangsbo J, Hansson O, Call J, Giavalisco P, Khaitovich P. Exceptional evolutionary divergence of human muscle and brain metabolomes parallels human cognitive and physical uniqueness. PLoS Biol 2014; 12:e1001871. [PMID: 24866127 PMCID: PMC4035273 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Accelerated evolution of the human brain and muscle metabolomes reflects our unique cognitive and physical capacities. Metabolite concentrations reflect the physiological states of tissues and cells. However, the role of metabolic changes in species evolution is currently unknown. Here, we present a study of metabolome evolution conducted in three brain regions and two non-neural tissues from humans, chimpanzees, macaque monkeys, and mice based on over 10,000 hydrophilic compounds. While chimpanzee, macaque, and mouse metabolomes diverge following the genetic distances among species, we detect remarkable acceleration of metabolome evolution in human prefrontal cortex and skeletal muscle affecting neural and energy metabolism pathways. These metabolic changes could not be attributed to environmental conditions and were confirmed against the expression of their corresponding enzymes. We further conducted muscle strength tests in humans, chimpanzees, and macaques. The results suggest that, while humans are characterized by superior cognition, their muscular performance might be markedly inferior to that of chimpanzees and macaque monkeys. Physiological processes that maintain our tissues' functionality involve the generation of multiple products and intermediates known as metabolites—small molecules with a weight of less than 1,500 Daltons. Changes in concentrations of these metabolites are thought to be closely related to changes in phenotype. Here, we assessed concentrations of more than 10,000 metabolites in three brain regions and two non-neural tissues (skeletal muscle and kidney) of humans, chimpanzees, macaque monkeys, and mice using mass spectrometry-based approaches. We found that the evolution of the metabolome largely reflects genetic divergence between species and is not greatly affected by environmental factors. In the human lineage, however, we observed an exceptional acceleration of metabolome evolution in the prefrontal cortical region of the brain and in skeletal muscle. Based on additional behavioral tests, we further show that metabolic changes in human muscle seem to be paralleled by a drastic reduction in muscle strength. The observed rapid metabolic changes in brain and muscle, together with the unique human cognitive skills and low muscle performance, might reflect parallel mechanisms in human evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bozek
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yuning Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiling Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieyi Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Masahiro Sugimoto
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Masaru Tomita
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Svante Pääbo
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Raik Pieszek
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - John J. Ely
- Alamogordo Primate Facility, Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Dirk Steinhauser
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lothar Willmitzer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Bangsbo
- Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ola Hansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Josep Call
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail: (JC); (PG); (PK)
| | - Patrick Giavalisco
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail: (JC); (PG); (PK)
| | - Philipp Khaitovich
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai, China
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail: (JC); (PG); (PK)
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O'Neill MC, Lee LF, Larson SG, Demes B, Stern JT, Umberger BR. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) pelvis and hind limb. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 216:3709-23. [PMID: 24006347 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.079665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Musculoskeletal models have become important tools for studying a range of muscle-driven movements. However, most work has been in modern humans, with few applications in other species. Chimpanzees are facultative bipeds and our closest living relatives, and have provided numerous important insights into our own evolution. A chimpanzee musculoskeletal model would allow integration across a wide range of laboratory-based experimental data, providing new insights into the determinants of their locomotor performance capabilities, as well as the origins and evolution of human bipedalism. Here, we described a detailed three-dimensional (3D) musculoskeletal model of the chimpanzee pelvis and hind limb. The model includes geometric representations of bones and joints, as well as 35 muscle-tendon units that were represented using 44 Hill-type muscle models. Muscle architecture data, such as muscle masses, fascicle lengths and pennation angles, were drawn from literature sources. The model permits calculation of 3D muscle moment arms, muscle-tendon lengths and isometric muscle forces over a wide range of joint positions. Muscle-tendon moment arms predicted by the model were generally in good agreement with tendon-excursion estimates from cadaveric specimens. Sensitivity analyses provided information on the parameters that model predictions are most and least sensitive to, which offers important context for interpreting future results obtained with the model. Comparisons with a similar human musculoskeletal model indicate that chimpanzees are better suited for force production over a larger range of joint positions than humans. This study represents an important step in understanding the integrated function of the neuromusculoskeletal systems in chimpanzee locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C O'Neill
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Effects of isometric scaling on vertical jumping performance. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71209. [PMID: 23936494 PMCID: PMC3731318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Jump height, defined as vertical displacement in the airborne phase, depends on vertical takeoff velocity. For centuries, researchers have speculated on how jump height is affected by body size and many have adhered to what has come to be known as Borelli’s law, which states that jump height does not depend on body size per se. The underlying assumption is that the amount of work produced per kg body mass during the push-off is independent of size. However, if a big body is isometrically downscaled to a small body, the latter requires higher joint angular velocities to achieve a given takeoff velocity and work production will be more impaired by the force-velocity relationship of muscle. In the present study, the effects of pure isometric scaling on vertical jumping performance were investigated using a biologically realistic model of the human musculoskeletal system. The input of the model, muscle stimulation over time, was optimized using jump height as criterion. It was found that when the human model was miniaturized to the size of a mouse lemur, with a mass of about one-thousandth that of a human, jump height dropped from 40 cm to only 6 cm, mainly because of the force-velocity relationship. In reality, mouse lemurs achieve jump heights of about 33 cm. By implication, the unfavourable effects of the small body size of mouse lemurs on jumping performance must be counteracted by favourable effects of morphological and physiological adaptations. The same holds true for other small jumping animals. The simulations for the first time expose and explain the sheer magnitude of the isolated effects of isometric downscaling on jumping performance, to be counteracted by morphological and physiological adaptations.
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Legreneur P, Bels V, Monteil K, Laurin M. Movement in a gravitational field: The question of limb interarticular coordination in terrestrial vertebrates. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2013; 36:49. [PMID: 23677448 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2013-13049-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Revised: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we demonstrated that interarticular coordination of terrestrial tetrapods emerges from an environment highly constrained by friction and the gravitational field. We briefly review recent works on the jumping behavior in squamates, lemurs and amphibians. We then explore previously published work as well as some unpublished experimental data on human jumping. Finally, we end by inferring locomotion in some of the first limbed vertebrates using a simulation procedure. All these data show that despite changes in shape, structure, and motor controls of taxa, the same spatio-temporal sequence of joint displacements always occurs when the movement is executed in a terrestrial environment. Comparison with aquatic locomotion argues for the hypothesis that this pattern emerged in early terrestrial tetrapods as a response to the gravitational constraint and the terrestrial frictional environment.
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Measurement of pelvic motion is a prerequisite for accurate estimation of hip joint work in maximum height squat jumping. J Appl Biomech 2012; 29:428-34. [PMID: 22923152 DOI: 10.1123/jab.29.4.428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In experiments investigating vertical squat jumping, the HAT segment is typically defined as a line drawn from the hip to some point proximally on the upper body (eg, the neck, the acromion), and the hip joint as the angle between this line and the upper legs (θUL-HAT). In reality, the hip joint is the angle between the pelvis and the upper legs (θUL-pelvis). This study aimed to estimate to what extent hip joint definition affects hip joint work in maximal squat jumping. Moreover, the initial pelvic tilt was manipulated to maximize the difference in hip joint work as a function of hip joint definition. Twenty-two male athletes performed maximum effort squat jumps in three different initial pelvic tilt conditions: backward (pelvisB), neutral (pelvisN), and forward (pelvisF). Hip joint work was calculated by integrating the hip net joint torque with respect to θUL-HAT (WUL-HAT) or with respect to θUL-pelvis (WUL-pelvis). θUL-HAT was greater than θUL-pelvis in all conditions. WUL-HAT overestimated WULpelvis by 33%, 39%, and 49% in conditions pelvisF, pelvisN, and pelvisB, respectively. It was concluded that θUL-pelvis should be measured when the mechanical output of hip extensor muscles is estimated.
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Legreneur P, Monteil KM, Pellé E, Montuelle S, Bels V. Submaximal leaping in the grey mouse lemur. ZOOLOGY 2011; 114:247-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2011.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Revised: 02/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Channon AJ, Usherwood JR, Crompton RH, Günther MM, Vereecke EE. The extraordinary athletic performance of leaping gibbons. Biol Lett 2011; 8:46-9. [PMID: 21831879 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The distance that animals leap depends on their take-off angle and velocity. The velocity is generated solely by mechanical work during the push-off phase of standing-start leaps. Gibbons are capable of exceptional leaping performance, crossing gaps in the forest canopy exceeding 10 m, yet possess none of the adaptations possessed by specialist leapers synonymous with maximizing mechanical work. To understand this impressive performance, we recorded leaps of the gibbons exceeding 3.7 m. Gibbons perform more mass-specific work (35.4 J kg(-1)) than reported for any other species to date, accelerating to 8.3 ms(-1) in a single movement and redefining our estimates of work performance by animals. This energy (enough for a 3.5 m vertical leap) is 60 per cent higher than that achieved by galagos, which are renowned for their remarkable leaping performance. The gibbons' unusual morphology facilitates a division of labour among the hind limbs, forelimbs and trunk, resulting in modest power requirements compared with more specialized leapers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Channon
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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Channon AJ, Crompton RH, Günther MM, Vereecke EE. Muscle moment arms of the gibbon hind limb: implications for hylobatid locomotion. J Anat 2010; 216:446-62. [PMID: 20447251 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01209.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscles facilitate skeletal movement via the production of a torque or moment about a joint. The magnitude of the moment produced depends on both the force of muscular contraction and the size of the moment arm used to rotate the joint. Hence, larger muscle moment arms generate larger joint torques and forces at the point of application. The moment arms of a number of gibbon hind limb muscles were measured on four cadaveric specimens (one Hylobates lar, one H. moloch and two H. syndactylus). The tendon travel technique was used, utilizing an electro-goniometer and a linear voltage displacement transducer. The data were analysed using a technique based on a differentiated cubic spline and normalized to remove the effect of body size. The data demonstrated a functional differentiation between voluminous muscles with short fascicles having small muscle moment arms and muscles with longer fascicles and comparatively smaller physiological cross-sectional area having longer muscle moment arms. The functional implications of these particular configurations were simulated using a simple geometric fascicle strain model that predicts that the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles are more likely to act primarily at their distal joints (knee and ankle, respectively) because they have short fascicles. The data also show that the main hip and knee extensors maintain a very small moment arm throughout the range of joint angles seen in the locomotion of gibbons, which (coupled to voluminous, short-fascicled muscles) might help facilitate rapid joint rotation during powerful movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Channon
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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Channon A, Crompton R, Günther M, D'Août K, Vereecke E. The biomechanics of leaping in gibbons. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2010; 143:403-16. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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22
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Samozino P, Morin JB, Hintzy F, Belli A. Jumping ability: A theoretical integrative approach. J Theor Biol 2010; 264:11-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2009] [Revised: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Channon AJ, Günther MM, Crompton RH, Vereecke EE. Mechanical constraints on the functional morphology of the gibbon hind limb. J Anat 2009; 215:383-400. [PMID: 19627388 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01123.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Gibbons utilize a number of locomotor modes in the wild, including bipedalism, leaping and, most of all, brachiation. Each locomotor mode puts specific constraints on the morphology of the animal; in some cases these may be complementary, whereas in others they may conflict. Despite several studies of the locomotor biomechanics of gibbons, very little is known about the musculoskeletal architecture of the limbs. In this study, we present quantitative anatomical data of the hind limb for four species of gibbon (Hylobates lar, H. moloch, H. pileatus and Symphalangus syndactylus). Muscle mass and fascicle lengths were obtained from all of the major hind limb muscles and the physiological cross-sectional area was calculated and scaled to remove the effect of body size. The results clearly indicate that, for all of the species studied, the major hip, knee and ankle extensors are short-fascicled and pennate. The major hip and knee flexors, however, are long-fascicled, parallel muscles with relatively small physiological cross-sectional areas. We hypothesize that the short-fascicled muscles could be coupled with a power-amplifying mechanism and are predominantly useful in leaping. The long-fascicled knee and hip flexors are adapted for a wide range of joint postures and can play a role in flexing the legs during brachiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Channon
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK.
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25
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Gillis GB. CHIMP POWER. J Exp Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.000414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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