Muscle development and regeneration

Article By:

Duprez, Delphine Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Développement, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.

Last reviewed:August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.902251

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• Muscle development and regeneration, published March 2016:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

The developmental aspects and regenerative capacity of muscles. Muscle tissue is composed of specialized contractile fibers. Upon contraction, these fibers can generate mechanical force that results in movement. Thus, the proper formation, maintenance, and functionality of skeletal muscles depend on a variety of processes, including those involved in development (Fig. 1), growth, repair, and regeneration. For example, skeletal muscle is the most voluminous tissue in humans. There are about 670 different muscles in the human body, including 170 distinct skeletal muscles in the head. The skeletal musculature serves crucial functions in vertebrates. The body muscles, including trunk and limb muscles, are responsible for posture and locomotion, whereas the head muscles control the eyes, cranial openings, food uptake (mastication), and speech. Skeletal muscle displays the ability to regenerate after injury or in degenerative diseases. However, this regenerative capacity is exhausted over time and in severe muscle dystrophies. See also: Developmental biology; Developmental genetics; Muscle; Muscular system; Regenerative biology

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