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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Semi-automated Analysis of Mouse Skeletal Muscle Morphology and Fiber-type Composition
Published on: August 31, 2017
[Histochemical study and classification of facial muscles fibers]
1Stomatological Department of Rocket Army General Hospital, Beijing 100088, PR China.
Objective:
To study the histological and histochemical characteristics of the facial muscle fiber.
Methods:
Seven biopsy specimens of the facial muscle from twelve patients were stained with histochemical method. The diameter and the histochemical type of the fibers were analysed by staining of M-ATP ase and NADA-TR. Type I and type II fibers were evaluated respectively by means of computer-assisted image analysis.
Results:
The fiber diameter is between 24.3-63.9 microns. According to the quantity of fiber I, facial muscles may be classified into three groups: 1. Phasic muscle contains less than 20 percent of type I fibers; 2. Intermediate muscle contains 21 to 40 percent of type I fibers; 3. Tonic muscle contains 41 to 69 percent of type I fibers.
Conclusion:
The results of the study show that the histological and histochemical difference of facial muscles may have significance in facial paralysis restoration.
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