The 103rd Annual Meeting of The Physiological Society of Japan

Organizer: Eiji Wada (Tokyo Medical University)
Chairs: Eiji Wada (Tokyo Medical University), Minako Takaishi (National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology)

When we want to move our body, the interaction between actin filaments and myosin filaments causes contraction of skeletal muscle, but this alone does not allow us to move our bodies as we wish. Skeletal muscle can be broadly classified into slow and fast muscle fibers, but they also differ in the muscle strength and endurance they exert. Skeletal muscle metabolism also depends on muscle mass and energy production and is one of critical factors in determining athletic performance. Of course, skeletal muscles cannot contract without transmitting stimulus information from nerves at the neuromuscular junction. Furthermore, the rate of contraction of skeletal muscles (changes in muscle length) is closely related to changes in related joint angles which is the basis for precise movements. In other words, it is through coordinated “excellent teamwork” that we are able to move our bodies as we wish. In this symposium, young skeletal muscle researchers will demonstrate their teamwork and introduce the latest research in muscle physiology.