Male and female syringeal muscles exhibit superfast shortening velocities in zebra finches.

ABSTRACT: Vocalisations play a key role in the communication behaviour of many vertebrates. Vocal production requires extremely precise motor control, which is executed by superfast vocal muscles that can operate at cycle frequencies over 100 Hz and up to 250 Hz. The mechanical performance of these muscles has been quantified with isometric performance and the workloop technique, but owing to methodological limitations we lack a key muscle property characterising muscle performance, the force-velocity relationship. Here, we quantified the force-velocity relationship in zebra finch superfast syringeal muscles using the isovelocity technique and tested whether the maximal shortening velocity is different between males and females. We show that syringeal muscles exhibit high maximal shortening velociti

SUBMITTER: Gladman NW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11058336 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature