The Motor Mechanism of the Insect Leg

Abstract

ABSTRACT A double motor innervation is described from an insect muscle, the two nerve fibres producing respectively a tonic contraction and a twitch. No evidence has been found for the existence of inhibitory fibres. The nature of the two types of contraction is discussed, and compared with the similar double motor innervation of some Crustacean muscles. The distribution of motor fibres to the muscles of the metathoracic leg of Periplaneta is described in detail. The method of utilization of the leg in normal life is discussed.