Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Subject-specific Musculoskeletal Model for Studying Bone Strain During Dynamic Motion
Published on: April 11, 2018
A muscle-path-plane method for representing muscle contraction during joint movement
1Institute of Biomedical Manufacturing and Life Quality Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Energy Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Traditional muscle paths (the straight-line model and the viapoint-line model) emphasise either the mechanical properties that arouse joint movement or the morphological characteristics of the muscles. To consider both the factors, a muscle-path-plane (MPP) method is introduced to model the paths of muscles during joint movement. This method is based on the premise that there is a MPP, constructed by origin, insertion and MPP control point, which represents the major direction of the muscle contraction for an arbitrary joint configuration at any time. Then, we can calculate the functions and the lengths of the muscle paths during instantaneous joint movement in MPP by mathematical approaches. Taking the triceps brachii as an example, the lengths of its paths during elbow flexion are calculated and compared with the relative studies reported in the literature. It is concluded that this method can provide an insight into the simulation of the muscle contraction.
Related Concept Videos
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Contraction
Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions
Isotonic contractions
Isotonic contractions occur when a muscle changes length while the...
Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscles
When an action potential...
Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction
Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles
Like neurons, muscle cells are also regarded as excitable due to their capacity to change in response to stimuli, primarily due to voltage-gated ion channels embedded in their plasma membranes, which get activated by alterations in the cell's...

