biomechanics
- Turning performance in squid and cuttlefish: unique dual-mode, muscular hydrostatic systems
Summary: Squid and cuttlefish are capable of high maneuverability and agility through coordination of a unique muscular hydrostat-driven propulsive system involving paired fins and a pulsed jet.
- Forces generated during stretch in the heart of the lobster Homarus americanus are anisotropic and are altered by neuromodulators
Summary: In lobster hearts, SGRNFLRFamide and GYSNRNYLRFamide had anisotropic, inotropic effects on the biaxial and uniaxial length–tension curves measured along the longitudinal and transverse axes of beating hearts in control and stimulated preparations.
- Increased muscular volume and cuticular specialisations enhance jump velocity in solitarious compared with gregarious desert locusts, Schistocerca gregaria
Highlighted Article: Larger muscles and more elastic cuticular springs allow solitarious locusts to jump 25% faster than gregarious locusts, but they require double the energy and time to operate the spring mechanism.
- Surface tension dominates insect flight on fluid interfaces
Highlighted Article: The first biomechanical model of insect flight on air–water fluid interfaces, in the context of observations on waterlily beetles, uncovers a complex interplay of aerodynamics, biomechanics and capillary forces.
- The role of human ankle plantar flexor muscle–tendon interaction and architecture in maximal vertical jumping examined in vivo
Summary: Elastic power delivered from ankle muscle-tendons during jumping in humans is aided by energy storage against body weight and proximal-distal sequencing of limb action, but not variable mechanical advantage, which may explain our modest jumping ability.
- Dynamics and thermal sensitivity of ballistic and non-ballistic feeding in salamanders
Summary: Tongue projection powered by elastic recoil has greater performance and thermal robustness than projection powered by muscle contraction, as revealed by comparison of two species of salamanders with different projector muscle architecture.
- Comparative limb bone loading in the humerus and femur of the tiger salamander: testing the ‘mixed-chain’ hypothesis for skeletal safety factors
Summary: Safety factors against skeletal failure differ between the forelimbs and hindlimbs of salamanders; this may relate to differing locomotor roles, potentially bearing on the invasion of land by vertebrates.
- Convergence of joint mechanics in independently evolving, articulated coralline algae
Summary: Joints have evolved three times in coralline algae. Despite these independent origins, coralline joints are universally strong and extensible, which reflects the unique biomechanical challenges they face in wave-swept environments.
- XROMM analysis of rib kinematics during lung ventilation in the green iguana, Iguana iguana
Summary: During breathing, rotation of the ribs in green iguanas is nearly hinge-like, despite costal joints that permit more complex motions.
- Gait kinetics of above- and below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in lemurid primates
Highlighted Article: The mechanics of below-branch quadrupedal locomotion in primates is not simply a mirror of above-branch quadrupedal locomotion, but instead shows kinetic similarities that may be related to arm swinging.