ArticleProceedings. Biological sciences2022
Musculoskeletal wing-actuation model of hummingbirds predicts diverse effects of primary flight muscles in hovering flight.
Article in Proceedings. Biological sciences, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- The pectoralis muscle orientation as an indicator of the modes of wing-propelled locomotion in birds.Journal of anatomy · 2026Article
- Soft tissue constraints on joint mobility in the avian shoulder.The Journal of experimental biology · 2025Article
- Efficiency and control trade-offs and work loop characteristics of flapping-wing systems with synchronous and asynchronous muscles.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2025Article
- Flight power muscles have a coordinated, causal role in controlling hawkmoth pitch turns.The Journal of experimental biology · 2024Article
- Hummingbirds rapidly respond to the removal of visible light and control a sequence of rate-commanded escape manoeuvres in milliseconds.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2024Article
- Musculoskeletal wing-actuation model of hummingbirds predicts diverse effects of primary flight muscles in hovering flight.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Hummingbirds have evolved to hover and manoeuvre with exceptional flight control. This is enabled by their musculoskeletal system that successfully exploits the agile motion of flapping wings. Here, we synthesize existing empirical and modelling data to generate novel hypotheses for principles of hummingbird wing actuation. These may help guide future experimental work and provide insights into the evolution and robotic emulation of hummingbird flight. We develop a functional model of the hummingbird musculoskeletal system, which predicts instantaneous, three-dimensional torque produced by primary (pectoralis and supracoracoideus) and combined secondary muscles. The model also predicts primary muscle contractile behaviour, including stress, strain, elasticity and work. Results suggest that the primary muscles (i.e. the flight 'engine') function as diverse effectors, as they do not simply power the stroke, but also actively deviate and pitch the wing with comparable actuation torque. The results also suggest that the secondary muscles produce controlled-tightening effects by acting against primary muscles in deviation and pitching. The diverse effects of the pectoralis are associated with the evolution of a comparatively enormous bicipital crest on the humerus.
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