Insects can beat their wings at exceptionally high frequencies because A) their wing muscles have mostly fast-twitch fibers. B) their motor neurons can fire action potentials at a very high frequency. C) their wings have exoskeletal supports. D) their wing muscles have extensive sarcoplasmic reticulum that cycles Ca²⁺ very fast. E) their wing muscles can generate a rapid oscillation of contraction asynchronous with motor neuron firing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Insects beat their wings at exceptionally high frequencies because their wing muscles can generate a rapid oscillation of contraction asynchronous with motor neuron firing, allowing them to achieve such rapid wing beats. This is known as the stretch-activate myogenic response. The other options are not as relevant or do not fully explain the high wing beat frequency in insects.

Insects Can Beat Their Wings at Exceptionally High Frequencies Because