A simple kinetic model of contraction of striated muscle: Full activation at full filament overlap in sarcomeres

A simple kinetic model of muscle contraction is suggested. The rates of cross-bridge transitions from one kinetic state to another one are supposed to depend on the strain averaged over an ensemble of actin-bound bridges. With a proper set of strain-dependent rate constants, the model fits well a broad range of experimental data. Owing to that the strain-stress relation is described by a set of ordinary differential equations, the model can be used for simulating complex 3D muscle contractions.