PMID: 1194153Oct 1, 1975Paper

Using body size to understand the structural design of animals: quadrupedal locomotion

Journal of Applied Physiology
T A McMahon

Abstract

Many parameters of gait and performance, including stride frequency, stride length, maximum speed, and rate of O2 uptake are experimentally found to be power-law functions of body weight in running quadrupeds. All of these parameters are reasonably easy to measure except maximum speed, where the question arises whether one means top sprinting speed or top speed for sustained running. Moreover, differences in training and motivation make comparisons of top speed difficult. The problem is circumvented by comparing animals running at the transition between trotting and galloping, a physiologically similar speed. Theoretical models are proposed which preserve either geometric similarity, elastic similarity, or static stress similarity between animals of large and small body weights. The model postulating elastic similarity provides the best correlation with published data on body and bone proportions, body surface area, resting metabolic rate, and basal heart and lung frequencies. It also makes the most successful prediction of stride frequency, stride length, limb excursion angles, and the metabolic power required for running at the trot-gallop transition in quadrupeds ranging in size from mice to horses.

Citations

Oct 27, 1988·Nature·I Johnston, J Altringham
Oct 1, 1987·Acta Physiologica Scandinavica·A Thorstensson, H Roberthson
Feb 1, 1986·Journal of Morphology·R D WoittiezR H Rozendal
Feb 10, 1999·Journal of Morphology·P Christiansen
Apr 3, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Sharon R Bullimore, Jeremy F Burn
Mar 7, 2007·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Pierre Lemelin, William L Jungers
Dec 18, 2008·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Manuela Schmidt, Martin S Fischer
Aug 2, 2008·Anatomia, histologia, embryologia·M ZeddaV Farina
Mar 10, 2009·PloS One·Michael DoubeSandra Shefelbine
May 7, 2010·The Journal of Animal Ecology·John R Speakman, Elzbieta Król
May 2, 2015·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Brandon M Kilbourne, Louwrens C Hoffman
Mar 17, 2015·Journal of Morphology·Katrina E Jones
Nov 29, 2015·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Jeffrey Scales, Marguerite Butler
Oct 19, 2016·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·James H Jones
Mar 23, 2017·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Patrick ArnoldMartin S Fischer
Feb 6, 2020·PloS One·Sayed Naseel Mohamed Thangal, J Maxwell Donelan
Jun 1, 1986·Anatomia, histologia, embryologia·G Dalin, L B Jeffcott
Jul 1, 1978·Journal of Zoology·A S Jayes, R M Alexander
May 1, 1984·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·D R Sumner
Mar 23, 1978·Nature·A W CromptonJ A Jagger
Jan 1, 1987·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·T R Reynolds
Mar 1, 1990·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·J A Vilensky, E Gankiewicz
Nov 1, 1995·Journal of Biomechanical Engineering·P Nanua, K J Waldron
Aug 1, 1985·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·T R Reynolds
Sep 26, 2000·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Y H ChangD V Lee
Nov 10, 2001·Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering·Robert D. Howe, Richard E. Kronauer
Feb 19, 2011·Calcified Tissue International·Stefano Z M BrianzaGiovanni Carlo Isaia
Oct 12, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·David V LeeCraig P McGowan
Jan 12, 2017·PLoS Biology·Taylor J M Dick, Christofer J Clemente
Oct 17, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Marguerite E MatherneDavid L Hu
Sep 8, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Hyunggwi SongMariana E Kersh
May 1, 1987·Journal of Morphology·J BouJ Ocaña
Oct 1, 1981·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·B T Shea
Jul 18, 2002·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Scott Medler
Aug 1, 1985·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·T R Reynolds
Oct 1, 1986·Journal of Morphology·A CasinosC Viladiu
Jul 15, 2004·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Michelle S M Drapeau
Jul 29, 2008·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Callum F RossNazima Shahnoor
Jun 19, 2010·Journal of Anatomy·Brandon M Kilbourne, Peter J Makovicky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.