Coordination of movements of the tube feet and arms of ophiurans during locomotion
Arshavskii, Yu. I. ; Kashin, S. M. ; Litvinova, N. M. ; Orlovskii, G. N. ; Fel'dman, A. G.
Springer
Published 1976
Springer
Published 1976
| ISSN: |
1573-9007
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| Source: |
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
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| Topics: |
Medicine
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| Notes: |
Abstract The role of the tube feet in locomotion of the ophiuranAmphipholis kochii Lütken is examined. During stepping movements the anterior tube feet attach themselves to the supporting surface and at the end of the step they detach themselves from it. The signal for detachment is deviation of the foot into the posterior (relative to the direction of motion) position. Because of this arrangement of the "stepping" mechanism of the tube feet the task of coordinating their activity with arm movements is greatly simplified. The feet "automatically" attach themselves to the support when the arm which carries them plays the role of motor; conversely, they detach themselves from the support when this arm moves forward. The CNS thus evidently does not participate in foot and arm movement coordination. It simply assigns the general direction of motion to all the feet and coordination takes place "automatically" as a result of the special properties of the "stepping" mechanism of individual feet.
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| Type of Medium: |
Electronic Resource
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| URL: |