Extra Muscle??

As i know how a touchy subject this can be, im going to try not to offend anyone if possible.

Anyways, growing up my father, several blacks, and even one of my old coaches used to tell me that blacks had an extra muscle in their backs, or maybe their legs, that helps them bring the leg up and down quicker, or to an extent such as that. Now i tried a few hours of research but couldnt turn up much, internet of course and even a medical book. I wonder because blacks tend to be faster than others. Anyways i thought i should use the power of ATS to help me out. Can anyone help me out to either confirm or debunk this mystery?...Thanks in advance

I would also like to ask if anyone else has ever heard of this rumor??peace

I have no clue.. but can't wait to see what people say about this post..

Few issues are as provocative and as poorly understood as biological differences among the races. So loaded are statements suggesting racial superiority or inferiority that, for the most part, an anxious hush surrounds the topic.

Entine has put together a well-researched, relatively thorough and lucidly written case, arguing that in many sports�particularly basketball, football, and track and field�athletes of African descent show a competitive advantage

he asserts that "there is extensive and persuasive research that elite black athletes have a phenotypic advantage�a distinctive skeletal system and musculature, metabolic structures, and other characteristics forged over tens of thousands of years of evolution. While people of African descent have spent most of their evolutionary history near to where they originated, the rest of the world's populations have had to modify their African adaptations after migrating to far different regions and climates."

Ultimately, the verdict is still out as to whether natural talent or hard work and determination account primarily for athletic prowess. The most probable answer is that they are inextricably linked. Rather than nature or nurture, the answer most likely lies in an interaction between the two. Entine's proposed biocultural theory offers an attractive explanation, suggesting that cultural conditions can amplify small but meaningful differences in performance related to heredity. Thus, inherited physiological differences may prove meaningless without rigorous training


www.sciam.com... 0BD235-1F76-1C75-9B81809EC588EF21&pageNumber=1&catID=2

From what I understand of muscle physiology it's that blacks (but not all) tend to have a higher percentage of "fast twitch" fibers in their muscles, whereas non-blacks (but not all) seems to have a higher proportion of "slow twitch" muscle fibers.

We all have varying degrees of each and it is usually based on both genetics AND training. I.e. someone training for sports requiring quick bursts of speed will naturally cultivate more "fast twitch" fibers than say someone who is training for a marathon.

Google should help you with the rest.

Thanks guys for you info and input. But i still have to ask if anyone else has ever heard of this rumor?peace

To answer your question directly: Sounds like an urban myth to me.

A muscle that would help raise the leg would have to be in the FRONT of the body between your hip bone and femur.

I have never heard of one group of humans having more or less organs, bones or muscles than another group.

i dont think there are differences in body composure then what the indiviual changes themselves thru excerise or toning. at least not enough to say that one race is that much different then another if anything is found different its on a scale that would rank the person in a "abnormality" catagory.

The basques(sp?) in northern spain actually do have a physical difference in either their structure or organs or something of that nature, that is unique to them. They also have their own language that no one knows where it originated from, it has no known roots. Ill try to post links and/or articles later on if my time permits.peace

Here is quite a bit of info on the basques, apparently their are distinct genetically. There language is also a mystery...

Basques

[edit on 2-8-2004 by jrod8900]

jrod8900
Can you check your link? I am getting a 404 when I click on it.
Thanx.

Try it now it should work...if not let me know. peace

No, there's no forensic difference in the muscle structure between the races. There are some bone differences, but they're minor.

Really there are differences? I didnt know that, like what kind of bone differences?

Different people have different foot structures, I don't recall the exact differences or if any particular race displayed them predominantly.

Actually, from what I heard it was people from certian parts of africa have an extra muscle in their legs (possibly calves) that help them run these marathons. Though with all this confusion I would have to agree that it sounds like like an urban legend.

A tribe in aftica shown on Ripley's Beleive It or Not only had two toes. Their feet were similar to birds. The toes were really elongated the curved around that looked somewhat like pinchers on insects and such.

I tried to find a link with info and pictures, but i couldnt turn up anything. I even tried Ripley's but alas still nothing. Their deformity was due to a genetic mutation.peace

Originally posted by A Lone Spartan
Really there are differences? I didnt know that, like what kind of bone differences?

There are alot of differences in the skulls between the racial groups. I'd like to show you to the pictures but I have lost the site

the difference does not lie within the race of an individual but the genetics.
ive seen numerous people of all races fat and ripped/muscular.
race has nothing to do with...its all genetics and the willingness of an individual to push his body to the next stage.
another variation that has been touched on is the different type of muscle fibers.
some people have more fast some more slow twitch and there are the ones that have a mixture of both.
Most top level bodybuilders have a majority of fast twitch. Add that to a good high calorie clean diet, consistent workout, good genetics and a little AAS, you have a formula for becoming one of the elite bodybuilders in world....give or take

[edit on 15-8-2004 by enrage]

I;ve read alot on this subject and no one is giving a straight answer let me add to the confusion ... I've had a Biology instructure told me they posses an extra muscle in there thigh, I have also heard a coach say the same thing.... Then I have talked to a retired teacher about it ... who claims thats racist and no no thats impossible.... why cant a doctor answer this lol

reply to post by jrod8900


NO!! You're coach is obviously not very smart because if he were he would realize that by him saying that, he is suggesting that African-Americans are a different SPECIES. It doesn't even matter if he is black or not and actually that just makes it worse because he doesn't even understand that something is wrong with this issue. Blacks have the EXACT SAME anatomy as a white person, latino, or asian. This theory that blacks have anything extra has just as much truth in it as the theory of asians possibly having bigger brains than any other race.. it's complete IGNORANCE. Do some research next time before you take someone else's words for fact