Myogenesis Muscle Growth and Structure

A comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that regulate muscle function and development is essential in understanding the physiological and biochemical pathways that mediate meat quality. This chapter will describe skeletal muscle structure, the mechanisms that control muscle contraction, and the metabolic and physiological variation between skeletal muscle tissues comprised of different fiber types. This chapter will also describe the essential molecular aspects that govern skeletal muscle development and growth of meat-type birds. These molecular processes are major determinants of meat quality through regulation of fiber type, fiber size, and the extracellular matrix organization. Alteration of the cellular processes that govern muscle growth through change in management practices, environmental influences, or genetic selection can have substantial effects on subsequent meat quality. This chapter describes the molecular components and cellular signaling pathways that regulate both embryonic development, and posthatch muscle growth.