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Journal of Experimental Biology 27,29-39 (1950)
Published by Company of Biologists 1950

Of the Movement of Worms

GARTH CHAPMAN ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, Queen Mary College, University of London

Four aspects of the functioning of a fluid-filled cylindrical animal have been examined, viz.: (I) the role of the body fluid as a skeleton for the interaction of the longitudinal and circular muscles of which the animal must be composed; (2) the measurement of the maximum thrust which the animal can exert by measurement of its internal hydrostatic pressure; (3) the application of the force to the substratum and the part played by friction; (4) the relation between the changes in dimensions of the animal and the working length of the muscles.

Under (1) the necessity for a longitudinal and circular construction has been shown and the necessity for a closed system emphasized.

Under (2) the pressure exerted on the body fluid by the contraction of the longitudinal and circular muscles is discussed, and from their cross-sectional areas it is shown to be probable that when contracting maximally in Lumbricus they are not balanced, but that the longitudinals are about ten times as strong as the circulars.

Under (3) it is shown that the strength of an animal as measured by its internal hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to account for its customary activities. Use which may be made of the longitudinals during burrowing is pointed out.

Under (4) it is shown to be mechanically sound for burrowing animals of cylindrical form to be ‘fat’, but that a ‘thin’ animal is more efficient at progression.

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