EFFECT of MUSCLE FIBER ORIENTATION ON PECTORALIS SUPERFICIALIS MUSCLE EXPANSION IN NACL SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Cubes (.75, 1.00 or 1.25 cm3) cut from pectoralis superficialis muscles of broiler chickens were used to study muscle expansion in NaCl solutions. the cubes were submerged in NaCl concentrations ranging from 17M to. 85M for up to 12 h at22°C. Length, width, depth, and volume of the muscle cubes increased (P <.05) as NaCl concentration increased. Expansion was less (P <.05) when measured along the longitudinal axes of the muscle fibers than when measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axes. Expansion of the cubes was different (P <.05) when the longitudinal axes of the muscle fibers were rotated from horizontal to vertical with respect to the surface of the solution. Measurements made perpendicular to the long axes of the muscle fibers were 7–8% larger when the fibers were oriented horizontal to the surface. This research demonstrated that muscle fiber orientation must be considered when designing experiments that involve muscle tissue expansion and absorption characteristics.