Current Methods in Muscle Physiology


Book Description

Despite extensive physiological, biochemical, and structural studies, the mechanisms of muscle contraction operating in living muscle fibres are still not clearly understood. This book aims to describe and assess various experimental methods currently used in the field of muscle research. For each method discussed, there is a comprehensive description of its advantages, problems, and limitations. Each chapter also contains a summary of the central results to have been obtained using each method. Comprehensively written by experts in their respective fields, this book will be of interest to all investigators in muscle physiology.




Omics Approaches to Understanding Muscle Biology


Book Description

This book is a collection of principles and current practices in omics research, applied to skeletal muscle physiology and disorders. The various sections are categorized according to the level of biological organization, namely, genomics (DNA), transcriptomics (RNA), proteomics (protein), and metabolomics (metabolite). With skeletal muscle as the unifying theme, and featuring contributions from leading experts in this traditional field of research, it highlights the importance of skeletal muscle tissue in human development, health and successful ageing. It also discusses other fascinating topics like developmental biology, muscular dystrophies, exercise, insulin resistance and atrophy due to disuse, ageing or other muscle diseases, conveying the vast opportunities for generating new hypotheses as well as testing existing hypotheses by combining high-throughput techniques with proper experiment designs, bioinformatics and statistical analyses. Presenting the latest research techniques, this book is a valuable resource for the physiology community, particularly researchers and grad students who want to explore the new opportunities for omics technologies in basic physiology research.




Mechanism of Muscular Contraction


Book Description

This book describes the evolution of ideas relating to the mechanism of muscular contraction since the discovery of sliding filaments in 1954. An amazing variety of experimental techniques have been employed to investigate the mechanism of muscular contraction and relaxation. Some background of these various techniques is presented in order to gain a fuller appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses. Controversies in the muscle field are discussed along with some missed opportunities and false trails. The pathway to ATP and the high energy phosphate bond will be discussed, as well as the discovery of myosin, contraction coupling and the emergence of cell and molecular biology in the muscle field. Numerous figures from original papers are also included for readers to see the data that led to important conclusions. This book is published on behalf of the American Physiological Society by Springer. Access to APS books published with Springer is free to APS members.




Muscle Cells


Book Description

The three different types of muscle tissue found in the animal kingdom are cardiac, skeletal, and smooth. The muscle cells are not only complex but also fascinating. In recent years there has been substantial advances in our understanding of muscle cell biology, especially in areas of molecular anatomy, basic physiology, understanding disease mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. Consequently, this book mainly focuses not only on the biology of myocytes, but also on all-encompassing disciplines pertaining to muscle tissue, such as fundamental physiology, molecular mechanisms of diseases, muscle regeneration, etc. for all three types of muscle, namely, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. As a result, the goal of this book is to consolidate the recent advances in the area of muscle biology/diseases/regeneration covering a broad range of interrelated topics in a timely fashion and to disseminate that knowledge in a lucid way to a greater scientific audience. This book will prove highly useful for students, researchers, and clinicians in muscle cell biology, exercise physiology/science, stem cell biology, developmental biology, cancer biology, pathology, oncology, as well as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This quick reference will benefit anyone desiring a thorough knowledge pertaining to recent advances in muscle biology in the context of health and disease.




An Introduction to Smooth Muscle Mechanics (2nd Edition)


Book Description

This second edition is an updated version of an introductory level textbook intended for students who are interested in understanding the mechanical properties of smooth muscle. Compared with skeletal and cardiac muscles, smooth muscle is the least understood in terms of its contraction mechanism and the structure of its contractile apparatus. Nevertheless, it is an important tissue that is vital in many organ functions, such as blood pressure control, intestinal peristalsis, and the emptying of the bladder. Dysfunction of the muscle has been implicated in many diseases such as high blood pressure, asthma, and overactive bladders. This is the only book-length treatment of functional models of a variety of smooth muscle behaviors with their corresponding mathematical descriptions, and offers an easy-to-follow, step-by-step mathematical derivation that will help students to appreciate the muscle cell as a fine-tuned aggregate of mechanisms governed by the fundamental laws of physics. In addition to providing a detailed description of the known subcellular structure and mechanical function of the contractile apparatus of smooth muscle, it also covers experimentation techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis. The book is a must-have information source for anyone interested in smooth muscle cell ultrastructure, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.




Current Researches in Skeletal Muscle


Book Description

This book, written by renowned experts, provides a comprehensive knowledge of skeletal muscles. The book presents a broad variety of subjects connected to skeletal muscle morphology and its functions. It deals with the procedure of myogenesis and the renewal of skeletal muscle, and the morphological and functional changes due to the effect of exercise or misuse. Execution of molecular biology methods in the investigations reveals a fresh point of view in the perception of skeletal muscle complications. The deeper examination of the neuromuscular signal transduction and alteration offers steadier basis for medical interventions. This book intends to help its readers in comprehending the subject in a better way.




Designing Foods


Book Description

This lively book examines recent trends in animal product consumption and diet; reviews industry efforts, policies, and programs aimed at improving the nutritional attributes of animal products; and offers suggestions for further research. In addition, the volume reviews dietary and health recommendations from major health organizations and notes specific target levels for nutrients.




Cell and Muscle Motility


Book Description

Motility is a fundamental property of living systems, from the cytoplasmic streaming of unicellular organisms to the most highly differentiated and devel oped contractile system of higher organisms, striated muscle. Research on var ious aspects of motile systems in muscle and undifferentiated or non muscle cells has been developing at an ever more rapid pace in the laboratories of investiga tors with a wide variety of backgrounds using methodologies varying from me chanics to the most sophisticated physical measurements. Significant contri butions to our understanding of motility are coming from the disciplines of cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, biophysics, and physiology. The findings have relevance not only to basic scientists but to clinicians in such diverse fields as cardiology and neurology and to scientists in the more traditional physical sciences. Cell and Muscle Motility is a new multivolume series of essays by distinguished research workers in various fields whose work has a common thread of dealing with one aspect or another of motility. The essays are meant to focus on topics of current interest, to be critical rather than exhaustive, and to indicate the current trends of research efforts. The series is intended to foster an interchange of concepts among various workers in the field and to serve as a reference for students and workers who wish to familiarize themselves with the most current progress in motility.




Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology


Book Description

"Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology" uses a mix of biochemistry, molecular biology, neurophysiology, and muscle physiology to provide a synthesis of current knowledge and research directions in the field. The first text devoted solely to the topic, "Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology" assists readers in identifying current directions in research and new avenues for exploration. Recognizing the rapid changes occurring in the field of neuromuscular exercise physiology, the text provides readers with a foundation of knowledge while detailing the most recent findings. Though the text is written at an advanced level, the author succeeds at making the content accessible. Analyses of research findings and research applications are highlighted in special sidebars. Detailed illustrations and graphs assist readers in understanding research findings. Chapter summaries also help readers determine the key issues presented for each topic. The author draws attention to a variety of important topics in the field, beginning with a discussion of motor unit types, muscle blood flow, and metabolic pathways in control of metabolism, including a special discussion of the effects of type 2 diabetes. Next, the topic of fatigue is discussed. The author explains possible peripheral and central contributors to fatigue. Chapters 6 and 7 focus on whole-body endurance training, including the effects of aerobic endurance training on the protein profiles of muscle fibers and on the central nervous system. Of particular interest is the applicability of research information to the exercise rehabilitation of individuals with compromised nervous system function, such as spinal cord injury, other trauma, and neuromuscular diseases. The final chapters are devoted to resistance training, including the phenotypic responses of muscles to isometric, slow isotonic, lengthening, and plyometric training. An overview of the effects of resistance training on the nervous system is offered along with clinical applications. Within the dynamic field of neuromuscular exercise physiology, ideas of how nerves and muscles collaborate during acute and chronic exercise are continually evolving. "Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology "offers an authoritative perspective of current research in the field as it seeks to encourage discussion, further study, and new research directions. Human Kinetics' "Advanced Exercise Physiology Series "offers books for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as professionals in exercise science and kinesiology. These books highlight the complex interaction of the various systems both at rest and during exercise. Each text in this series offers a concise explanation of the system and details how each is affected by acute exercise and chronic exercise training. "Advanced Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology" is the third volume in the series.




Muscle and Exercise Physiology


Book Description

Muscle and Exercise Physiology is a comprehensive reference covering muscle and exercise physiology, from basic science to advanced knowledge, including muscle power generating capabilities, muscle energetics, fatigue, aging and the cardio-respiratory system in exercise performance. Topics presented include the clinical importance of body responses to physical exercise, including its impact on oxygen species production, body immune system, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, cardiac energetics and its functional reserves, and the health-related effects of physical activity and inactivity. Novel topics like critical power, ROS and muscle, and heart muscle physiology are explored. This book is ideal for researchers and scientists interested in muscle and exercise physiology, as well as students in the biological sciences, including medicine, human movements and sport sciences. Contains basic and state-of-the-art knowledge on the most important issues of muscle and exercise physiology, including muscle and body adaptation to physical training, the impact of aging and physical activity/inactivity Provides both the basic and advanced knowledge required to understand mechanisms that limit physical capacity in both untrained people and top class athletes Covers advanced content on muscle power generating capabilities, muscle energetics, fatigue and aging