Skeletal muscle regeneration after injury: an overview

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable capacity for regeneration after injuries resulting in either partial or complete damage to the muscle fibers. Muscle damage occurs following a variety of injuries including direct injury caused by crushing, puncturing, cutting, or freezing; ischemia; direct application of local anesthetics; eccentric exercise, and a variety of neuromuscular diseases. Regardless of the injury, regeneration usually follows a characteristic sequence and is limited by three major factors that will be discussed in this overview of the processes involved in degeneration and regeneration of muscle. The major factors limiting the ability of skeletal muscle to regenerate after trauma or disease are a viable population of satellite cells, reinnervation, and revascularization.