Functional Morphology and Biomechanics

Research in the Brainerd Lab integrates studies of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics toward a more complete understanding of vertebrate morphology and evolution. Recent work has focused on the development and applications of a 3D imaging technology, X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM). With XROMM we can visualize and study the natural motions of bones and joints within living animals, and with XROMM combined with Fluoromicrometry (tracking radio-opaque markers in soft tissues) we can quantify the mechanical actions of the muscles powering skeletal motions.

Most recently Professor Brainerd worked with X-ray engineer Marty Kulis to develop microXROMM for imaging small animals such as mice, songbirds, lizards, amphibians, and fish. More than half of all vertebrate species are too small for standard XROMM, so microXROMM doubles the diversity of XROMM-accessible species. Professor Brainerd and her collaborators are currently applying XROMM, microXROMM, and fluoromicrometry to study the biomechanics of pufferfish skin during body inflation and behavioral neuroscience in mice, and she continues work on 3D muscle architecture and Architectural Gear Ratio in pennate and segmented musculature.