Optimal systems: III. Muscle

The optimal systems approach to the muscular system leads to difficulties since the properties of the muscular system are determined to a great extent by the nature of the contractile unit or molecule. This unit has determined the morphology and dynamic characteristics of muscle, and only smaller order alterations are then possible to adapt muscle to its several functions. A model of the contractile unit is developed that shows agreement with experimental findings with respect to the velocity-load relation, heat effects, and several aspects of knowledge of the structure of the contractile proteins.