Mathematical analysis of a muscle architecture model

Abstract

Modeling of muscle architecture, which aims to recreate mathematically the physiological structure of the muscle fibers and motor units, is a powerful tool for understanding and modeling the mechanical and electrical behavior of the muscle. Most of the published models are presented in the form of algorithms, without mathematical analysis of mechanisms or outcomes of the model. Through the study of the muscle architecture model proposed by Stashuk, we present the analytical tools needed to better understand these models. We provide a statistical description for the spatial relations between motor units and muscle fibers. We are particularly concerned with two physiological quantities: the motor unit fiber number, which we expect to be proportional to the motor unit territory area; and the motor unit fiber density, which we expect to be constant for all motor units. Our results indicate that the Stashuk model is in good agreement with the physiological evidence in terms of the expectations outlined above. However, the resulting variance is very high. In addition, a considerable ‘edge effect’ is present in the outer zone of the muscle cross-section, making the properties of the motor units dependent on their location. This effect is relevant when motor unit territories and muscle cross-section are of similar size.