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Crawling without Wiggling: Muscular Mechanisms and Kinematics of Rectilinear Locomotion in Boa Constrictors

Newman, Steven J
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-3143
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin150512929603962

Abstract Details

2017, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
Snakes use many different modes of locomotion depending on their speed and structure of environmental surfaces. Long ago, Gray and Lissmann’s pioneering use of frame-by-frame motion analysis facilitated defining four major modes of terrestrial snake locomotion that are still recognized. In common with nearly all limbless vertebrates, axial bending provides propulsion for three modes of snake locomotion, and the muscle activity responsible for this is known. By contrast, rectilinear locomotion can be performed with a straight body, and little is known about this mode beyond Lissmann’s work. We integrated electromyograms and kinematics of boa constrictors to test Lissmann’s hypotheses regarding the function of the costocutaneous superior (CCS) and inferior (CCI) muscles and the intrinsic cutaneous interscutalis (IS) muscle during rectilinear locomotion. The CCI muscles were active during static contact with the ground as they shortened and pulled the axial skeleton forward relative to both the ventral skin and the ground during the propulsive phase. The CCS muscles were active during sliding contact with the ground as they shortened and pulled the skin forward both relative to the axial skeleton and the ground during the recovery phase. Initial IS activity shortened the ventral skin, and subsequent isometric activity kept the skin shortened during most of static contact while overlapping extensively with CCI activity. The concentric activity of the CCI and CCS muscles supported Lissmann’s predictions. Contrary to Lissmann, the IS had prolonged isometric activity, and the brief time when it shortened was not consistent with providing propulsive force.
Bruce Jayne, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Daniel Buchholz, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Elke Buschbeck, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
43 p.
Biomechanics
snake; muscle; electromyography; movement; skin

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Newman, S. J. (2017). Crawling without Wiggling: Muscular Mechanisms and Kinematics of Rectilinear Locomotion in Boa Constrictors [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin150512929603962

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Newman, Steven. Crawling without Wiggling: Muscular Mechanisms and Kinematics of Rectilinear Locomotion in Boa Constrictors. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin150512929603962.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Newman, Steven. "Crawling without Wiggling: Muscular Mechanisms and Kinematics of Rectilinear Locomotion in Boa Constrictors." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin150512929603962

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin150512929603962
355
© 2017, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Crawling without Wiggling: Muscular Mechanisms and Kinematics of Rectilinear Locomotion in Boa Constrictors by Steven J Newman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.