Muscle contraction and force: the importance of an ancillary network, nutrient supply and waste removal.
Muscle contraction studies often focus solely on myofibres and the proteins known to be involved in the processes of sarcomere shortening and cross-bridge cycling, but skeletal muscle also comprises a very elaborate ancillary network of capillaries, which not only play a vital role in terms of nutrient delivery and waste product removal, but are also tethered to surrounding fibres by collagen "wires". This paper therefore addresses aspects of the ancillary network of skeletal muscle at both a microscopic and functional level in order to better understand its role holistically as a considerable contributor to force transfer within muscular tissue.
Brüggemann
Dagmar A
DA
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Risbo
Jens
J
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Pierzynowski
Stefan G
SG
Department of Cell & Organism Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Harrison
Adrian P
AP
Department of Animal & Veterinary Basic Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.