Prime MoverPrime Mover
a Natural History of Muscle
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Book, 2001
Current format, Book, 2001, 1st ed, Available .Book, 2001
Current format, Book, 2001, 1st ed, Available . Offered in 0 more formatsA fascinating introduction to the world of muscle explores the role this important tissue plays in a host of important tasks, from maintaining a heartbeat to hunting prey.
An introduction to the world of muscle explores the role this important tissue plays in a host of tasks, from maintaining a heartbeat to hunting prey.
In this work of popular science, Vogel (biology, Duke U.) explores the biology and physics of muscle and explains how muscle conditioned the design and use of many human tools and machines. The basic biology of muscles and the early attempts to under stand muscles form the early discussion, with later chapters talking about how various animals use muscles for a variety of tasks. The brain's control of muscle dynamics is then explored. Later chapters look at the use and design of hand tools to make muscles more efficient and muscle-powered weapons. Finally, the biology of eating animal muscle is discussed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The storyand the scienceof nature's greatest engine. Whether we blink an eye, lift a finger, throw a spear or a ball, walk, run, or merely breathe, we are using muscle. Although muscles differ little in appearance and performance across the animal kingdom, they accomplish tasks as diverse as making flies fly, rattlesnakes rattle, and squid shoot their tentacles. Our everyday activities turn on the performance of nature's main engine: we may breathe harder going uphill, but we put more strain on our muscles walking downhill. Those of us who are right-handed can tighten screws and jar lids more forcibly than we can loosen them. Here we're treated to the story of how form and performance make these things happenhow nature does her work. Steven Vogel is a leader in the great new field of bioengineering, which is rapidly explaining the beauty and efficiency of nature. His talents as both scientist and writer shine in this fascinating narrative of biological ingenuity. 100 b/w line drawings.
An introduction to the world of muscle explores the role this important tissue plays in a host of tasks, from maintaining a heartbeat to hunting prey.
In this work of popular science, Vogel (biology, Duke U.) explores the biology and physics of muscle and explains how muscle conditioned the design and use of many human tools and machines. The basic biology of muscles and the early attempts to under stand muscles form the early discussion, with later chapters talking about how various animals use muscles for a variety of tasks. The brain's control of muscle dynamics is then explored. Later chapters look at the use and design of hand tools to make muscles more efficient and muscle-powered weapons. Finally, the biology of eating animal muscle is discussed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The storyand the scienceof nature's greatest engine. Whether we blink an eye, lift a finger, throw a spear or a ball, walk, run, or merely breathe, we are using muscle. Although muscles differ little in appearance and performance across the animal kingdom, they accomplish tasks as diverse as making flies fly, rattlesnakes rattle, and squid shoot their tentacles. Our everyday activities turn on the performance of nature's main engine: we may breathe harder going uphill, but we put more strain on our muscles walking downhill. Those of us who are right-handed can tighten screws and jar lids more forcibly than we can loosen them. Here we're treated to the story of how form and performance make these things happenhow nature does her work. Steven Vogel is a leader in the great new field of bioengineering, which is rapidly explaining the beauty and efficiency of nature. His talents as both scientist and writer shine in this fascinating narrative of biological ingenuity. 100 b/w line drawings.
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- New York : W.W. Norton, c2001.
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