Abstract
Based on similarity of motor patterns of lizards, crocodiles, birds and mammals, various authors have concluded that a number of homologous muscles across these taxa demonstrate neuromuscular conservatism. This hypothesis remains untested for more basal taxa. Therefore, a quantitative electromyographic study of the hind limb during treadmill walking (mean speed of 0.75 SVL/s) in the salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus was undertaken. Muscles located ventrally on the hind limb become active just before foot placement on the substrate, and maintain activity through the first half of the stance phase. Dorsally located muscles begin activity at or just before the start of the swing phase, and fire through the first half of swing. Several muscles showed a secondary EMG burst during the stride. The second burst in most ventral muscles occurred in late stance. In all dorsal muscles with double bursts, the second burst occurred in the middle of stance. Comparison of electromyographic onset and offset values for Dicamptodon to those for presumed homologues in other tetrapods reveals similarity in activity patterns for all ventral and two dorsal muscles despite anatomical rearrangements, supporting the hypothesis of neuromuscular conservatism for some muscles but not others.
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Abbreviations
- BF :
-
biceps femoris muscle
- CDF :
-
caudofemoralis muscle
- CPIT :
-
caudalipuboischiotibialis muscle
- Dist :
-
distal
- EDC :
-
extensor digitorum communis muscle
- EMG :
-
electromyogram
- EXF :
-
extensor cruris et tarsi fibularis muscle
- EXT :
-
extensor cruris tibialis muscle
- FMFB :
-
femorofibularis muscle
- FPC :
-
flexor primordialis communis muscle
- Gastroc :
-
gastrocnemius muscle
- ILFB :
-
iliofibularis muscle
- ILFM :
-
iliofemoralis muscle
- ILTA :
-
extensor iliotibialis pars anterior muscle
- ILTP :
-
extensor iliotibialis pars posterior muscle
- ISC :
-
ischiocaudalis muscle
- ISF :
-
ischioflexorius muscle
- ISFM :
-
ischiofemoralis muscle
- ITCR :
-
iliotrochantericus cranialis muscle
- ITM :
-
iliotrochantericus medius muscle
- MG :
-
medial gastrocnemius muscle
- PFM :
-
pubifemoralis muscle
- PIFE :
-
puboischiofemoralis externus muscle
- PIFI :
-
puboischiofemoralis internus muscle
- PIT :
-
puboischiotibialis muscle
- Prox :
-
proximal
- PTB :
-
pubotibialis muscle
- Sol :
-
soleus muscle
- ST :
-
semitendinosus muscle
- SVL :
-
snout-vent length
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Ashley-Ross, M.A. Patterns of hind limb motor output during walking in the salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus, with comparisons to other tetrapods. J Comp Physiol A 177, 273–285 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192417
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00192417