Abstract
Prior to the early fifties, contraction was widely believed to be mediated by shortening of the A-band substance. This view was upset by the publication, in the same issue of the journal, Nature, of two papers disputing that view (A.F. Huxley and Niedergerke, 173: 971, 1954; H.E. Huxley and Hanson, 173: 973, 1954). Out of these seminal observations grew the sliding filament theory, which is now widely accepted. The underlying essence of this theory is that filaments of essentially constant length slide by one another, and that the driving force arises out of the action of the cross-bridges distributed along the length of the thick filament.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pollack, G.H., Sugi, H. (1984). Introduction. In: Pollack, G.H., Sugi, H. (eds) Contractile Mechanisms in Muscle. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 37. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4703-3_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4703-3_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4705-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4703-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive