In vivo time-resolved microtomography reveals the mechanics of the blowfly flight motor.
- Simon M Walker
- Daniel A Schwyn
- Rajmund Mokso
- Martina Wicklein
- Tonya Müller
- Michael Doube
- Marco Stampanoni
- Holger G Krapp
- Graham K Taylor
DOIAbstract
Dipteran flies are amongst the smallest and most agile of flying animals. Their wings are driven indirectly by large power muscles, which cause cyclical deformations of the thorax that are amplified through the intricate wing hinge. Asymmetric flight manoeuvres are controlled by 13 pairs of steering muscles acting directly on the wing articulations. Collectively the steering muscles account for <3% of total flight muscle mass, raising the question of how they can modulate the vastly greater output of the power muscles during manoeuvres. Here we present the results of a synchrotron-based study performing micrometre-resolution, time-resolved microtomography on the 145 Hz wingbeat of blowflies. These data represent the first four-dimensional v...
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