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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Functional anatomy of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) hindlimb
Journal of Anatomy, Volume 218, No. 4, Year 2011
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Description
The cheetah is capable of a top speed of 29ms-1 compared to the maximum speed of 17ms-1 achieved by the racing greyhound. In this study of the hindlimb and in the accompanying paper on the forelimb we have quantified the musculoskeletal anatomy of the cheetah and greyhound and compared them to identify any differences that may account for this variation in their locomotor abilities. Specifically, bone length, mass and mid-shaft diameter were measured, along with muscle mass, fascicle lengths, pennation angles and moment arms to enable estimates of maximal isometric force, joint torques and joint rotational velocities to be calculated. Surprisingly the cheetahs had a smaller volume of hip extensor musculature than the greyhounds, and we therefore propose that the cheetah powers acceleration using its extensive back musculature. The cheetahs also had an extremely powerful psoas muscle which could help to resist the pitching moments around the hip associated with fast accelerations. The hindlimb bones were proportionally longer and heavier, enabling the cheetah to take longer strides and potentially resist higher peak limb forces. The cheetah therefore possesses several unique adaptations for high-speed locomotion and fast accelerations, when compared to the racing greyhound. © 2010 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy © 2010 Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Authors & Co-Authors
Corr, Sandra A.
United Kingdom, London
Royal Veterinary College University of London
United Kingdom, Nottingham
University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Payne-Davis, Rachel C.
United Kingdom, London
Royal Veterinary College University of London
Clancy, Sinead N.
United Kingdom, London
Royal Veterinary College University of London
United Kingdom, Nottingham
University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Lane, Emily P.
South Africa, Pretoria
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Wilson, Alan Martin
United Kingdom, London
Royal Veterinary College University of London
Statistics
Citations: 108
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01310.x
ISSN:
00218782