Electromyographic activity of the palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles in exercising horses.
Abstract: Determining the respiratory related activity of the palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles in exercising horses is relevant because dysfunction of these muscles has been implicated in the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Objective: To determine if the palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles have respiratory activity that increases with intensity in exercising horses. Methods: Electromyographic activity was measured in the palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles using bipolar fine-wire electrodes while the horses completed an incremental exercise treadmill protocol. Results: Both muscles displayed synchronous expiratory activity that increased significantly (P < 0.05) with exercise intensity. Phasic expiratory activity of the palatinus increased 390 +/- 98%, whereas phasic expiratory activity of the palatopharyngeus increased by 198 +/- 30% as the treadmill speed increased from 6 to 12 m/s. Conclusions: The palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles may be important respiratory muscles, functioning to stabilise the position of the soft palate during intense exercise. Conclusions: The predominant expiratory activity of these muscles may be associated with specific muscle function related to exercise or distinct upper airway phenomena of an obligate nasal breather, such as the horse.
Publication Date: 2007-10-04 PubMed ID: 17910271DOI: 10.2746/042516407x197752Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research explores how the activity of two specific muscles, palatinus and palatopharyngeus, in horses changes during exercise, and it found these muscles’ activity increases with the intensity of exercise. This study was conducted due to the connection between the functions of these muscles and the issues related to dorsal displacement of a horse’s soft palate.
Research Objective
- The goal of this research was to investigate if the activity of palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles, which are linked to horse’s respiratory system, increases as the intensity of the exercise goes up. This study was driven by the hypothesis that ailments related to the dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses might be caused by the dysfunction of these specific muscles.
Research Methods
- Electromyographic (EMG) activity of said muscles was measured using a technique involving bipolar fine-wire electrodes. By doing this, the researchers hoped to determine the behavior of these muscles while the horses conducted an incremental exercise treadmill protocol.
Results
- Both palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles showed substantial expiratory activity that significantly increased as the intensity of the exercise went up. Precisely, the expiratory activity of the palatinus muscle increased by 390 +/- 98%, while that of the palatopharyngeus muscle grew by 198 +/- 30% as the speed of the treadmill progressed from 6 to 12 m/s.
Conclusions
- The findings suggest that both the palatinus and palatopharyngeus might play key roles as the respiratory muscles in horses, and contribute to stabilizing the position of the soft palate during intense workouts.
- The study also points out that the particular expiratory activity of these muscles might have a direct association with specific muscle functions tied to horses’ physical activities or unique upper airway phenomena suitable for a species that primarily breathes through the nose, i.e., the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Holcombe SJ, Derksen FJ, Robinson NE.
(2007).
Electromyographic activity of the palatinus and palatopharyngeus muscles in exercising horses.
Equine Vet J, 39(5), 451-455.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x197752 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48624, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electromyography / methods
- Electromyography / veterinary
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Laryngeal Muscles / physiology
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Palatal Muscles / physiology
- Pharyngeal Muscles / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Respiratory Mechanics / physiology
- Running / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Cercone M, Olsen E, Perkins JD, Cheetham J, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG. Investigation into pathophysiology of naturally occurring palatal instability and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses: Thyro-hyoid muscles fatigue during exercise. PLoS One 2019;14(10):e0224524.
- Pilarski JQ, Leiter JC, Fregosi RF. Muscles of Breathing: Development, Function, and Patterns of Activation. Compr Physiol 2019 Jun 12;9(3):1025-1080.
- Jean D, Picandet V, Céleste C, Macieira S, Cesarini C, Morisset S, Rossier Y, Marcoux M. Palatal sclerotherapy for the treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in 51 standardbred racehorses. Can Vet J 2011 Nov;52(11):1203-8.
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