Muscle activity in rat locomotion: Movement analysis and electromyography of the flexors and extensors of the elbow

Footfall patterns and time sequence of activity are described for white rats conditioned to run freely in an activity wheel (which they drive). Motion is described in terms of soft contact, hard contact, soft contact, and flip phases. Duration of stride decreases and length of stride increases from walk to trot to canter to gallop. Myographic analysis shows that the brachialis has a major tonic function after it fires strongly during the flip phase and during much of the hard contact phase. Animals running at canter or gallop show major asymmetries between forelimb muscles on the first paw and on the lead paw sides.

[1]  S. A. Barnett,et al.  The Rat: A Study in Behavior. , 1977 .

[2]  W. Chambers,et al.  An experimental study of the anatomical organization of the cortico‐bulbar system in the albino rat , 1964, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[3]  Ragnar Granit,et al.  Mechanisms regulating the discharge of motoneurons , 1972 .

[4]  F. Jenkins.  The functional anatomy and evolution of the mammalian humero-ulnar articulation. , 1973, The American journal of anatomy.

[5]  G. Rushworth.  The Basis of Motor Control , 1971 .

[6]  Roger W. Sperry,et al.  Transplantation of motor nerves and muscles in the forelimb of the rat , 1942 .

[7]  R. F. Ewer.  The Biology and Behaviour of a Free-Living Population of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) , 1971 .

[8]  G. E. Goslow,et al.  The cat step cycle: Hind limb joint angles and muscle lengths during unrestrained locomotion , 1973, Journal of morphology.

[9]  W. Rymer,et al.  Functional Specialization in the Motor Unit Population of Cat Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle , 1973 .

[10]  M. Hildebrand.  WALKING, RUNNING, AND JUMPING , 1962 .

[11]  M. Hildebrand.  Analysis of Vertebrate Structure , 1974 .

[12]  Kinnier WILsoN.  MODERN PROBLEMS IN NEUROLOGY , 1928 .

[13]  M Hildebrand,et al.  Symmetrical gaits of horses. , 1965, Science.

[14]  E Henneman,et al.  Terminals of single Ia fibers: location, density, and distribution within a pool of 300 homonymous motoneurons. , 1971, Journal of neurophysiology.

[15]  Roger W. Sperry,et al.  The effect of crossing nerves to antagonistic muscles in the hind limb of the rat , 1941 .

[16]  Roger W. Sperry,et al.  The functional results of muscle transposition in the hind limb of the rat , 1940 .

[17]  Eunice Chace Greene.  Anatomy of the Rat , 1936, Nature.

[18]  Shik Ml,et al.  Work of muscle receptors during controlled locomotion , 1967 .

[19]  I. Engberg,et al.  An electromyographic analysis of muscular activity in the hindlimb of the cat during unrestrained locomotion. , 1969, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[20]  S Carlsöö,et al.  The functions of certain two-joint muscles in a closed muscular chain. , 1966, Acta morphologica Neerlando-Scandinavica.

[21]  M. Taylor.  Locomotion in Some East African Viverrids , 1970 .