spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by ALTRINGHAM, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by JOHNSTON, I. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by ALTRINGHAM, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by JOHNSTON, I. A.
Journal of Experimental Biology 148,395-402 (1990)
Published by Company of Biologists 1990

Modelling Muscle Power Output in a Swimming Fish

JOHN D. ALTRINGHAM 1 and IAN A. JOHNSTON 2

1 Gatty Marine Laboratory, Department of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, The University St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB.; Department of Pure and Applied Biology, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT.
2 Gatty Marine Laboratory, Department of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, The University St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB

Intact, electrically excitable fibre bundles were isolated from the fast and slow myotomal muscle of the bullrout (Myoxocephalus scorpius L.). Power output was measured under conditions simulating their activity in a fish swimming at different speeds. Preparations were subjected to sinusoidal length changes of ±5% of resting length, and stimulated briefly during each cycle. The number and timing of stimuli were adjusted at each cycle frequency to maximise power output. Maximum power was produced at 5-7 Hz for fast fibres (25-35 W kg-1) and 2 Hz for slow fibres (5-8 Wkg-1). Under these conditions, pre-stretch of active muscle provides an important mechanism for storing potential energy for release during the shortening part of the cycle.

Key words: fish, locomotion, muscle mechanics, oscillatory work

Accepted on October 12, 1989






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1990