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FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT OF THE CAUDAL MUSCLES IN THE SHORTFIN PILOT WHALE
Author(s) -
Arkowitz Robert,
Rommel Sentiel
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.1985.tb00009.x
Subject(s) - thrust , bending moment , anatomy , moment (physics) , whale , geology , bending , flexor muscles , biology , physics , fishery , classical mechanics , thermodynamics
A bstract Controversy has existed about the power stroke of cetacean locomotion. We therefore measured cross‐sectional areas of the appropriate muscles of the tail and computed possible forces and bending moments. The muscle areas are approximately equal in size and a similar relationship holds for the caudal tendons. It appears that the hypoaxial and epiaxial muscles are capable of generating forces that are approximately equal. Thrust delivered in the upstroke and downstroke may therefore be equal.