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The Journal of experimental biology2002; 205(Pt 9); 1339-1353; doi: 10.1242/jeb.205.9.1339

Torque patterns of the limbs of small therian mammals during locomotion on flat ground.

Abstract: In three species of small therian mammals (Scandentia: Tupaia glis, Rodentia: Galea musteloides and Lagomorpha: Ochotona rufescens) the net joint forces and torques acting during stance phase in the four kinematically relevant joints of the forelimbs (scapular pivot, shoulder joint, elbow joint, wrist joint) and the hindlimbs (hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, intratarsal joint) were determined by inverse dynamic analysis. Kinematics were measured by cineradiography (150 frames s(-1)). Synchronously ground reaction forces were acquired by forceplates. Morphometry of the extremities was performed by a scanning method using structured illumination. The vector sum of ground reaction forces and weight accounts for most of the joint force vector. Inertial effects can be neglected since errors of net joint forces amount at most to 10 %. The general time course of joint torques is comparable for all species in all joints of the forelimb and in the ankle joint. Torques in the intratarsal joints differ between tailed and tail-less species. The torque patterns in the knee and hip joint are unique to each species. For the first time torque patterns are described completely for the forelimb including the scapula as the dominant propulsive segment. The results are compared with the few torque data available for various joints of cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus f. familiaris), goats (Capra sp.) and horses (Equus przewalskii f. caballus).
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Publication Date: 2002-04-12 PubMed ID: 11948209DOI: 10.1242/jeb.205.9.1339Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the forces and torques at work in the limbs of three small therian mammal species during locomotion. The researchers used inverse dynamic analysis to determine these mechanical properties at various joints in the forelimbs and hindlimbs.

Methodology

  • The researchers studied three species of small therian mammals: Tupaia glis, a scandentia; Galea musteloides, a rodent; and Ochotona rufescens, a lagomorph.
  • They analyzed four kinematically relevant joints in the forelimbs and hindlimbs: the scapular pivot, shoulder joint, elbow joint, wrist joint in the forelimbs, and the hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, intratarsal joint in the hindlimbs.
  • The forces and torques acting on these joints during the stance phase of locomotion were studied using inverse dynamic analysis.
  • Their movements were captured via cineradiography at 150 frames per second. Simultaneously, the ground reaction forces were measured using forceplates.
  • The morphology of the limbs was studied using a scanning method that utilized structured illumination.

Findings

  • The joint force vector is largely accounted for by the vector sum of the ground reaction forces and the mammals’ weight.
  • Inertial effects on net joint forces are minimal, with errors amounting to at most 10%.
  • The researchers found similar joint torque patterns across all three species in all the forelimb joints and the ankle joint.
  • Differences appeared in the intratarsal joint torques between mammals with tails and those without.
  • The torque patterns in the knee and hip joints were found to be unique to each species.
  • This is the first study that provides a comprehensive description of torque patterns in the forelimbs, giving special attention to the role of the scapula as the dominant propulsive segment.
  • The study’s findings are compared with the sparse existing torque data for various joints in cats, dogs, goats, and horses.

Significance

  • This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the biomechanics of small mammal locomotion, offering a detailed understanding of the torques and forces at work in their limb joints.
  • The findings could be useful in the field of biomechanics, providing a basis for understanding the dynamics of movement in animals and potentially inspiring designs in robotics and prosthetics.

Cite This Article

APA
Witte H, Biltzinger J, Hackert R, Schilling N, Schmidt M, Reich C, Fischer MS. (2002). Torque patterns of the limbs of small therian mammals during locomotion on flat ground. J Exp Biol, 205(Pt 9), 1339-1353. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.205.9.1339

Publication

The Journal of experimental biology
ISSN: 0022-0949
NlmUniqueID: 0243705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 205
Issue: Pt 9
Pages: 1339-1353

Researcher Affiliations

Witte, Hartmut
  • Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Erbertstrasse 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
Biltzinger, Jutta
    Hackert, Rémi
      Schilling, Nadja
        Schmidt, Manuela
          Reich, Christian
            Fischer, Martin S

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Biomechanical Phenomena
              • Cineradiography
              • Extremities / anatomy & histology
              • Extremities / physiology
              • Forelimb / anatomy & histology
              • Forelimb / physiology
              • Guinea Pigs / anatomy & histology
              • Guinea Pigs / physiology
              • Hindlimb / anatomy & histology
              • Hindlimb / physiology
              • Lagomorpha / anatomy & histology
              • Lagomorpha / physiology
              • Locomotion / physiology
              • Mammals / anatomy & histology
              • Mammals / physiology
              • Scandentia / anatomy & histology
              • Scandentia / physiology
              • Torque

              Citations

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