Keep calm and hang on: EMG activation in the forelimb musculature of three-toed sloths (
Flexor
Motor units
Muscle
Suspension
Journal
The Journal of experimental biology
ISSN: 1477-9145
Titre abrégé: J Exp Biol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0243705
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 07 2020
27 07 2020
Historique:
received:
11
11
2019
accepted:
02
06
2020
pubmed:
13
6
2020
medline:
27
5
2021
entrez:
13
6
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Sloths exhibit below branch locomotion whereby their limbs are loaded in tension to support the body weight. Suspensory behaviors require both strength and fatigue resistance from the limb flexors; however, skeletal muscle mass of sloths is reduced compared with other arboreal mammals. Although suspensory locomotion demands that muscles are active to counteract the pull of gravity, it is possible that sloths minimize muscle activation and/or selectively recruit slow motor units to maintain support, thus indicating neuromuscular specializations to conserve energy. Electromyography (EMG) was evaluated in a sample of three-toed sloths (
Identifiants
pubmed: 32527958
pii: jeb.218370
doi: 10.1242/jeb.218370
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2020. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests.