Comments on the thermodynamical background to the growth and remodelling theory applied to a model of muscle fibre contraction

Abstract

Muscle fibre contraction is a complex thermomechanical process. The change in muscle fibre length (isotonic contraction) and tension (isometric contraction) may be regarded as muscle fibre growth (change in length) and remodelling (change in stiffness). In this study a general mathematical model based on the growth and remodelling theory and the theory of irreversible thermodynamics is proposed. The isometric contraction of muscle fibre is treated as an isothermal process. The relevance of chemical agents diffusion is also discussed.