Tension triggers muscle building
Sunday, March 16, 2014 - 17:57
in Biology & Nature
Skeletal muscles are built from small contractile units, the sarcomeres. They are connected in a well-ordered series to form myofibrils that span the entire muscle. Contractions of these sarcomeres result in contraction of the respective muscle. Scientists recently identified a key mechanism how this muscle architecture is built during development. 'Mechanical tension is the essential trigger,' explains the group leader.