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Cited by 88Muscle activation and electromyography studiesElasticity and Material ModelingTendon Structure and Treatment

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A mathematical model of force transmission from intrafascicularly terminating muscle fibers

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Sharafi, Bahar, Blemker, Silvia S.·2011·Journal of Biomechanics
DOI 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.04.038PMC PMC3134549
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Abstract

Many long skeletal muscles are comprised of fibers that terminate intrafascicularly. Force from terminating fibers can be transmitted through shear within the endomysium that surrounds fibers or through tension within the endomysium that extends from fibers to the tendon; however, it is unclear which pathway dominates in force transmission from terminating fibers. The purpose of this work was to develop mathematical models to (i) compare the efficacy of lateral (through shear) and longitudinal (through tension) force transmission in intrafascicularly terminating fibers, and (ii) determine how force transmission is affected by variations in the structure and properties of fibers and the endomysium. The models demonstrated that even though the amount of force that can be transmitted from an intrafascicularly terminating fiber is dependent on fiber resting length (the unstretched length at which passive stress is zero), endomysium shear modulus, and fiber volume fraction (the fraction of the muscle cross-sectional area that is occupied by fibers), fibers that have values of resting length, shear modulus, and volume fraction within physiologic ranges can transmit nearly all of their peak isometric force laterally through shearing of the endomysium. By contrast, the models predicted only limited force transmission ability through tension within the endomysium that extends from the fiber to the tendon. Moreover, when fiber volume fraction decreases to unhealthy ranges (less than 50%), the force-transmitting potential of terminating fibers through shearing of the endomysium decreases significantly. The models presented here support the hypothesis that lateral force transmission through shearing of the endomysium is an effective mode of force transmission in terminating fibers.

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  • Changes in the extracellular matrix with unloading may contribute to the nonuniform force loss.

    “Additionally, as the extracellular matrix contributes to lateral force transmission (via costameres that enable nonmyofascial force transmission), changes in the extracellular matrix with unloading may contribute to the nonuniform force loss (89–91).”

    From Nonuniform loss of muscle strength and atrophy during bed rest: a systematic review (2021) · cites this paper as [89]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says that changes in muscle microstructure may affect force transmission through the endomysium, supporting the proposed extracellular-matrix mechanism. The paper does not examine unloading or show that such changes contribute to nonuniform force loss. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 32

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Metadata

Authors
Sharafi, B., & Blemker, S. S.
Affiliations
University of Virginia (US)
Corresponding author
Blemker, Silvia S.
ORCID
Blemker, Silvia S.
Venue
Journal of Biomechanics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-07
Volume
44
Issue
11
Pages
2031-2039
ISSN
0021-9290 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.04.038
PMC
PMC3134549
OpenAlex
W2167416861
Cited by
88
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Biomechanics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (R01 AR 056201)
  • NSF (#0734262)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Elasticity and Material Modeling
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Tendon Structure and Treatment
Keywords
force transmission, endomysium, fiber volume fraction, shear modulus, isometric force, skeletal muscle mechanics, mathematical modeling
MeSH terms
Animals, Cats, Guinea Pigs, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Models, Biological, Muscle Tonus, Tendons, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Shear Strength

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