The structure and composition of functionally specialized skeletal muscle in the cane toad (rhinella marinas).

Abstract

This study examines the structure and composition of functionally specialized skeletal muscle in the cane toad (Rhinella marinas). Contributing to the suggestions of previous studies, my yearlong research exhibits a relationship between skeletal muscle cell size, type, and function. The cane toad was used as an ideal model for exhibiting specialized functions of muscle. My study determined that the concentrically contracting hopping muscle, the plantaris longus, exhibits larger cell area and fascicle area than the eccentrically contracting landing muscle, the anconeus. Further, the anconeus muscle has a greater cell density and greater collagen content than the plantaris muscle. These findings highlight the relationship between the morphology and composition of the cane toad muscle (Rhinella marina) and its specialized functions.