Muscle Mechanics
Muscle Mechanics - Related Videos
08:42
Myo-mechanical Analysis of Isolated Skeletal Muscle
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Cited by 25 •
2011
To assess the in vivo effects of therapeutic interventions for muscle disease, methods are needed to quantitate force generation and fatigability in treated muscle. We detail an approach to evaluating myo-mechanical properties in explanted mouse hindlimb muscle. This analysis provides a robust approach to quantitating the effects of genetic modification on muscle function, as well as comparison of therapies in mouse models of muscle disease.
01:21
Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles
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2024
The Role of Accessory Muscles in the Respiratory System The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation. Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles: Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...
06:59
In Vivo Evaluation of the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Tongue
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2017
We describe a surgical procedure in an anesthetized rat model for determining the muscle tone and viscoelastic properties of the tongue. The procedure involves specific stimulation of the hypoglossal nerves and application of passive Lissajous force/deformation curves to the muscle.
14:36
Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice
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Cited by 75 •
2013
Changes in limb muscle contractile and passive mechanical properties are important biomarkers for muscle diseases. This manuscript describes physiological assays to measure these properties in the murine extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior muscles.
14:02
Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
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Cited by 53 •
2012
We describe a method to directly measure muscle force, muscle power, contractile kinetics and fatigability of isolated skeletal muscles in an in vitro system using field stimulation. Valuable information on Ca2+ handling properties and contractile machinery of the muscle can be obtained using different stimulating protocols.
FAQs
Fiber length is a key condition that changes the force a muscle can generate. Evaluating performance at different lengths helps researchers determine how mechanical state affects contractile output rather than treating force as a fixed property. This relationship is important when building muscle models or engineered tissues intended to reproduce functional movement across changing joint positions.
Shortening velocity describes how quickly muscle fibers reduce their length during contraction, and it is one of the variables linked to force production. Comparing force at different shortening velocities helps characterize contractile behavior under distinct movement conditions. Bioengineers can use this information to make models and movement systems reflect how muscle performance changes during faster or slower actions.
Activation and external load provide two different conditions for interpreting muscle output. Activation reflects the muscle's contractile state, while external load represents the resistance acting against it. Measuring performance while these factors vary helps separate changes caused by muscle stimulation from changes caused by the mechanical demand, supporting more informative models of movement and tissue function.
Myosin motors interact with actin filaments during contraction, providing the molecular basis for force generation. This interaction connects events at the filament level with measurable outcomes such as force and shortening. In bioengineering, relating molecular activity to whole-tissue mechanics helps researchers evaluate whether engineered muscle constructs or computational models reproduce meaningful contractile behavior.
Force, strain, stiffness, and contractile performance provide complementary views of muscle function. Force records output, strain describes mechanical deformation, and stiffness indicates resistance to deformation. Together, these measurements allow researchers to assess how tissue responds mechanically and whether an engineered construct or model has properties relevant to functional movement, rather than relying on a single performance value.
Bioengineers apply muscle mechanics principles when developing muscle models, prosthetic and robotic systems, rehabilitation technologies, and engineered muscle constructs. The relevant design variables include force, fiber length, shortening velocity, activation, and external load. Incorporating these factors can help systems represent or support movement more realistically and provides criteria for evaluating mechanical and contractile performance.
Mechanical testing can reveal changes in force, strain, stiffness, and contractile performance that are relevant to tissue function and disease investigation. These measurements also help evaluate engineered muscle constructs and strategies intended to restore movement. By comparing mechanical behavior across conditions, researchers can identify functional limitations and judge whether a bioengineering approach improves muscle-related performance.