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Description
This programe examines some of the different ways in which animals use fluid muscle systems to achieve locomotion. The speakers are Dr. M.E. Varley, senior lecturer in Biology at the Open Universit...y, Professor E.R. Trueman, professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester, and Professor D. Nichols, professor of Zoology at the University of Exeter. Dr. Varley illustrates with time-lapse film the use of the enteron as a hydro-skeleton in sea anemones and demonstrates with dissections how these animals are able to use their enteron as a hydro-skeleton as well as a digestive system. Burrowing in the bivalves Donax and Mactra are illustrated and then Professor Trueman demonstrates the two fluid muscle systems used by bivalves to achieve this type of locomotion. He explains the need to relate, fluid muscle pressures to muscle movements and then demonstrates how increases in pressure in the mantle cavity of the clam Mya can be produced by two different sorts of muscular activity. Using timelapse film, Professor Trueman then demonstrates the movements of the foot and of the shell valves of the razor shell Ensis during a digging cycle and the student is asked to correlate these movements with quantative data as a computer marked assignment. Professor Nichols demonstrates locomotion in the starfish Asterias and the sea cucumber Holothuria and then with the aid of models explains his current theory of tube foot locomotion. He discusses the part studies of anatomy and histology have played in forming his theory and explains some of the difficulties encountered by research workers in this field.
This programe examines some of the different ways in which animals use fluid muscle systems to achieve locomotion. The speakers are Dr. M.E. Varley, senior lecturer in Biology at the Open Universit...y, Professor E.R. Trueman, professor of Zoology at the University of Manchester, and Professor D. Nichols, professor of Zoology at the University of Exeter. Dr. Varley illustrates with time-lapse film the use of the enteron as a hydro-skeleton in sea anemones and demonstrates with dissections how these animals are able to use their enteron as a hydro-skeleton as well as a digestive system. Burrowing in the bivalves Donax and Mactra are illustrated and then Professor Trueman demonstrates the two fluid muscle systems used by bivalves to achieve this type of locomotion. He explains the need to relate, fluid muscle pressures to muscle movements and then demonstrates how increases in pressure in the mantle cavity of the clam Mya can be produced by two different sorts of muscular activity. Using timelapse film, Professor Trueman then demonstrates the movements of the foot and of the shell valves of the razor shell Ensis during a digging cycle and the student is asked to correlate these movements with quantative data as a computer marked assignment. Professor Nichols demonstrates locomotion in the starfish Asterias and the sea cucumber Holothuria and then with the aid of models explains his current theory of tube foot locomotion. He discusses the part studies of anatomy and histology have played in forming his theory and explains some of the difficulties encountered by research workers in this field.
| Module code and title: | S22-, Comparative physiology |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S22-; 01; 1972 |
| Series: | Comparative physiology |
| Episode | 1 |
| First transmission date: | 22-01-1972 |
| Published: | 1972 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:22:53 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Tony Laryea |
| Contributors: | D Nichols; E R Trueman; Peggy Varley |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Bivalves; Enteron; Fluid muscle systems; Hydro-skeleton; Locomotion; Mantle cavity; Models; Quantative data; Time-lapse film; Tube foot locomotion |
| Footage description: | Shots of the oceanic jelly fish Cyanea. Commentary by Peggy Varley describes the method of locomotion. As an introduction to her discussion on Polyp locomotion, Peggy Varley blows up a rubber glove and demonstrates how pressure is transferred in an enclosed space. She introduces a film sequence taken by Professor P. Walker. Film sequence shows locomotion of a sea anemone (Film speeded up 60 times). Commentary by Peggy Varley describes what is happening. Peggy Varley explains how the sea anemone can use the same organ as a gut and hydroskeleton. She uses a partially dissected anemone to aid. Peggy Varley induces rapid movement in a sea anemone. She explains how the animal achieves this rapid motion. To aid her explanation Varley points out the various muscles (spiiinter, retractor, circular, parietal) which the anemone uses in locomotion. Peggy Varley holds a bivalve mollusc to the camera and explains its method of locomotion. Film sequence shows bivalves Donax and Mactra burrowing in the sand. E.R. Trueman explains bivalve locomotion with the aid of diagrams and a clam-Mya. Trueman shows and explains the experimental set up with which he relates fluid muscle pressure to muscle movement. Trueman uses a time lapse film to demonstrate movement of the foot and shell valves of the razor shell Ensis during a digging cycle. Peggy Varley introduces D.Nichols. Nichols uses a model of a starfish arm to explain and demonstrate tube foot locomotion. Several film shots showing close ups of starfish locomotion. (starfish Asterias) Close up shot of a sea cucumber showing tube foot locomotion. Nichols uses a model of the tube foot mechanism of the sea cucumber to explain how locomotion takes place. He then shows micrographs of the tube foot fluid system. Peggy Varley sums up. |
| Master spool number: | 6LT/70424 |
| Production number: | 00521_2119 |
| Videofinder number: | 3575 |
| Available to public: | no |
