Variation in muscle fibre diameter among sections and intrasections and between contralateral muscles in seven bovine muscles

Abstract

Sectional and intrasectional variations in muscle fibre diameter over a restricted axial range were examined in seven bovine muscles from foetuses, calves and steers. Significant sectional variations were found in four muscles, while two muscles showed significant intrasectional variations. The results indicate that sampling sites require accurate definition in comparative studies of muscle fibre diameter.Two extensor muscles of the foreleg, m. extensor carpi radialis and m. extensor digitorum communis showed neither sectional nor intrasectional variation in muscle fibre diameter and appear to be more satisfactory muscles for use in muscle fibre growth studies than m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum.A comparison of mean muscle fibre diameter in 60 pairs of contralateral muscles showed that there were no significant differences in 52 of the muscle pairs.

3D finite element models from serial section histology of skeletal muscle tissue – The role of micro-architecture on mechanical behaviour

“…A closer inspection of the muscle tissue reveals that (i) muscle fibre cross-sections are typically neither circular nor regular (Briguet et al, 2004;Sertel et al, 2011), and (ii) along the longitudinal direction, fibres have neither uniform shape nor do they follow a straight line (Farrell and Fedde, 1969;Johnson and Beattie, 1973). Moreover, at the length scale of about 100 μm, perimysium winds around the fibres in layers, groups them into fascicles (Mohammadkhah et al, 2018;Oshima et al, 2007), and adds even more complexity.…”