... properties Skin Elasticity Feeding Evolution Macrostomy National Science Foundation http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000001 1832795 Compared with many other vertebrates, the skin of snakes must meet diverse functional demands. In addition to the generalized functions of protecting...

... that during muscle activation, titin binds to actin, which engages the PEVK region of titin, thereby increasing titin stiffness. In this study, we investigated the role of PEVK titin in active muscle stiffness during rapid unloading. We measured elastic recoil of active and passive soleus muscles from Ttn...

... this hypothesis. Strength and elastic (Young's) modulus were similarly lower in sloth limb bones during both compression and bending, as compared with pronograde taxa. Ratios of peak bending strength to compressive strength additionally were elevated (sloths: 1.4–1.7; upright taxa: 0.6–1.2) for sloth limb bones...

..., but mostly isotropic, with collagen and elastin fibers running in all directions. The rorqual TMJ pad compresses as gape increases. Its stiffness is hypothesized to damp acceleration, whereas its elasticity is hypothesized to absorb shock during engulfment, allow for rotation or other jaw motion during gape...

...Giovanni A. Cavagna; Mario A. Legramandi ABSTRACT A long-lasting challenge in comparative physiology is to understand why the efficiency of the mechanical work done to maintain locomotion increases with body mass. It has been suggested that this is due to a more elastic step in larger animals. Here...

...Andrew Matson; Nicolai Konow; Samuel Miller; Pernille P. Konow; Thomas J. Roberts SUMMARY The material properties of a tendon affect its ability to store and return elastic energy, resist damage, provide mechanical feedback and amplify or attenuate muscle power. While the structural properties...

... was reasonably constant during the time that rates of energy output were measured. This is important because it excludes any contribution to power output from the series elastic element (its length depends on the force exerted on it and it can only perform work if its length decreases) so the power and enthalpy...

...Glen A. Lichtwark; Johanna C. Watson; Sophia Mavrommatis; Alan M. Wilson SUMMARY The equine biceps brachii (biceps) initiates rapid limb protraction through a catapult mechanism. Elastic strain energy is slowly stored in an internal tendon and is then rapidly released to protract the forelimb...

...G. A. Lichtwark; A. M. Wilson SUMMARY Muscles are required to perform or absorb mechanical work under different conditions. However the ability of a muscle to do this depends on the interaction between its contractile components and its elastic components. In the present study we have used...

.... We aimed to determine the in vivo Achilles tendon (AT) stress and strain during one-legged hopping and hence the contribution of elastic recoil to mechanical energy changes. We simultaneously measured the length of the Achilles tendon from the muscle–tendon junction to the insertion on the calcaneous...

... a cyclical movement (such as locomotion)and the length change of the whole muscle tendon unit (MTU) can also be varied. Architecturally, muscles have a range of fibre lengths, maximum force-producing capabilities and stiffness of the series elastic element(SEE). In the present work we use a model to explore...

...G. A. Lichtwark; A. M. Wilson SUMMARY The power output of a muscle and its efficiency vary widely under different activation conditions. This is partially due to the complex interaction between the contractile component of a muscle and the serial elasticity. We investigated the relationship between...

... a radius of the circular contact area E Young's modulus of the plant sample E b Young's modulus of the sapphire sphere F a adhesive force F n applied force K reduced elasticity modulus of materials N number of pitchers n number of samples or measurements...

... of Biologists 1999 fibrillin microfibril elasticity molecular structure X-ray diffraction mechanical properties The ocular zonule is a network of fibres that suspends the lens from the ciliary body in the eye ( Mayne et al., 1997 ). The forces involved in changing the shape of the lens...

...D. A. Kelly ABSTRACT Artificial inflation of corpora cavernosa from the nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus ) showed that the expansion of the tunica albuginea during erection increases both components of flexural stiffness: the second moment of area and Young’s modulus of elasticity...

...G. J. C. Ettema ABSTRACT The mechanical energy exchanges between components of a muscle–tendon complex, i.e. the contractile element (CE) and the series elastic element (SEE), and the environment during stretch–shorten cycles were examined. The efficiency of the storage and release of series...

... up to approximately 300 % of its initial length. It behaves like a viscoelastic solid, having a long-range elastic component as well as a time-dependent viscous component. Reduction and alkylation of the cysteine residues in the network do not change its breaking strain or strength, but greatly...

...G. J. C. Ettema ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the contractile and series elastic properties of terrestrial mammals that use bipedal versus quadrupedal gaits. The gastrocnemius muscle of the hopping mouse (body mass 30.2±2.4 g, mean ± S.D.) and the rat (313±10.7 g) were compared...

... in tissue structure. The vessels were compliant at low strains, but demonstrated nonlinear elasticity, increasing in stiffness as strains increased; this property could act as protection against artery wall rupture. The vessels of the lamprey, hagfish and lobster are capable of acting as fairly efficient...

... that reflect the lower pressure and simpler haemodynamics of the poikilothermic circulation. The aorta is highly distensible, resilient and non-linearly elastic, giving it the requisite properties to act as an effective storage element in the arterial circulation. An abrupt transition from high compliance (low...