Electromyographic Studies of the Effects of Bilateral, Cervical Vagotomy on the Action of the Respiratory Muscles of the Domestic Cock

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONTHE anatomical relations of the muscular and skeletal systems (Sibson, 1846; Soum, 1896; Zimmer 1935) or direct action potentials of muscle fibers (Burkart and Bucher, 1961; Kadono et al., 1963) have been utilized for the delineation of the action of the avian respiratory muscles. Integrated action potential recordings provide a more reliable tool than direct action potential recordings for the determination of the period of activity of these muscles (Fedde et al., 1964). Furthermore, the level of general anesthesia has a profound influence on the electrical activity of respiratory muscles and must be carefully considered (Fedde et al., 1964).Soum (1896), Zimmer (1935), and Burkart and Bucher (1961) have postulated that the initial part of both inspiration and expiration is due primarily to elastic recoil of the thorax and that only the latter portion of both phases is produced by muscular activity. However, Fedde et al. (1964), have shown…