Physiology · Nerve and Muscle Physiology

Sliding filament theory of muscle contraction

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Definition

  • Sliding-filament theory (A.F. Huxley, 1957): shortening of a muscle fibre occurs by thin filaments sliding over thick filaments toward the centre of the sarcomere.

Sarcomere Changes During Contraction

  • During contraction, A band length remains constant; H zone and I band decrease in width, and the Z lines move closer together.

Clinical

  • Constant A band length with narrowing H zone and I band is the structural evidence that shortening occurs by increasing filament overlap, not by shortening of the thick or thin filaments themselves.

High Yield

  • Sliding-filament theory (A.F. Huxley, 1957): muscle shortening occurs by thin filaments sliding over thick filaments toward the sarcomere centre.
  • A band length is constant during contraction.
  • H zone and I band decrease in width, and Z lines move closer together, during contraction.