The Propulsion of Sea-Urchin Spermatozoa

Journal of Experimental Biology - Tập 32 Số 4 - Trang 802-814 - 1955
J. Gray1, Gregory J. Hancock2
1University of Cambridge Department of Zoology ,
2Queen Mary College, University of London † Department of Aeronautical Engineering ,

Tóm tắt

ABSTRACT The movement of any short length of the tail of a spermatozoon of Psammechinus miliaris and the characteristic changes which it undergoes during each cycle of its displacement through the water can be described in terms of the form and speed of propagation of the bending waves which travel along the tail (Gray, 1953, 1955); the form of the wave depends on the maximum extent of bending reached by each element and on the difference in phase between adjacent elements. The object of this paper is to consider the forces exerted on the tail as it moves relative to the surrounding medium and to relate the propulsive speed of the whole spermatozoon to the form and speed of propagation of the bending waves generated by the tail. The mathematical theory of the propulsive properties of thin undulating filaments has recently been considered by Taylor (1951, 1952) and by Hancock (1953); the present study utilizes and extends their findings but approaches the problem from a somewhat different angle. resistance, and consequently the transverse displacement (Vy) elicits reactions tangential and normal to the surface of the element. The latter force (δNy) has a component(δNysinθ) acting forward along the axis (xx ′) of propulsion; it is this component which counteracts the retarding effect of all the forces acting tangentially to the surface.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Gray, 1953, Undulatory movement, Quart. J. Micr. Sci., N.S, 94, 551

Gray, 1955, The movement of sea-urchin spermatozoa, J. Exp. Biol, 32, 775, 10.1242/jeb.32.4.775

Hancock, 1953, The self-propulsion of microscopic organisms through liquids, Proc. Roy. Soc. A, 317, 96

Taylor, 1951, Analysis of the swimming of microscopic organisms, Proc. Roy. Soc. A, 209, 447

Taylor, 1952, The action of waving cylindrical tails in propelling microscopic organisms, Proc. Roy. Soc. A, 211, 225

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Journal of Experimental Biology

Tập 32 Số 4

802-814

Thông tin tác giả