PhD Studentships |
Current Scholarships
The role of pinnate muscles in mechanics and control of stable locomotion
Supervisors: Dr Monica Daley (mdaley@rvc.ac.uk) and Prof Alan Wilson
Department: Veterinary Basic Sciences
The muscles of the limb must function to move an animal effectively over level terrain, inclines and uneven terrain with stability and agility. Muscle architecture influences the ability of muscles to contribute usefully to the mechanical requirements of locomotion. In some cases, the relationship between architecture and function is clear; for example, the pectoralis muscle of flying birds is optimised for power output. In other cases, the link between structure and function remains uncertain. The architecture of many distal limb muscles limits their capacity for joint position control, and work production for tasks such as jumping. Yet, most animals have substantial mass in pinnate distal leg muscles.
We hypothesize that these muscles play key roles in sensory feedback and stabilisation of locomotion. Due to their architecture, pinnate muscles exhibit rapid changes in length and force in response to perturbations. This might allow them to rapidly absorb or produce energy to minimise the effect of perturbations and protect the legs from injury. This project will test this hypothesis through a combination of 3D musculoskeletal modelling, in situ experiments on distal leg muscles in a guinea fowl, and in vivo muscle measurements during locomotion with external perturbations. This project will develop models linking muscle architecture to neuromuscular function in locomotion, which will improve the realism of musculoskeletal simulations. Such simulations are becoming increasingly important for clinical applications, including models of neuromuscular disorders, and development of rehabilitation strategies. However, current models have not been validated against in vivo data. Consequently, this project will also contribute to the three Rs by developing validated models that reduce the need for future animal experiments.
This project will develop general models for the role of pinnate muscles in controlling movement, building upon previous work in the area by Monica Daley and Alan Wilson.
References:
- Daley, M.A., A. Voloshina, and A.A. Biewener (2009). The role of intrinsic muscle mechanics in the neuromuscular control of stable running in the guinea fowl. J Physiol, 587: 2693-2707. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.171017.
- Daley, M.A. and A.A. Biewener (2003) Muscle force-length dynamics during level versus incline locomotion: a comparison of in vivo performance of two guinea fowl ankle extensors. Journal of Experimental Biology 206(17): p. 2941-2958.
- Wilson, A. M., McGuigan, M. P., Su, A. & van den Bogert, A. J. (2001) Horses damp the spring in their step. Nature 414, 895-899.
The deadline for applications is Friday 12th February 2010.
Interview Dates:
Friday 12th March 2010 (Hawkshead Campus)
Tuesday 16th March 2010 (Camden Campus).
See the main Studentships page for application details and further information.