Structure and function of skeletal muscle and locomotive systems: Involvement of water-state transitions

Abstract

Skeletal muscle, fascia, tendon, cartilage, and bone are all of mesodermal origin and constitute a continuous musculoskeletal system. It is necessary that this locomotive system be sufficiently robust to support mechanical impacts and body weight, and to allow friction-free joint movement. As a strategy to fulfill these apparently conflicting requirements, tissues of locomotive systems are proposed here to utilize differential water states and their transitions, on the basis of analyses of structure and function of skeletal muscle and cartilage. Although many studies on physical fitness and sports medicine are now focusing on functional aspects of cytoskeletons and solutes such as proteins and signaling molecules, another breakthrough may be possible from conscious awareness of the role of water molecules supplying a universal field for functioning molecules.