**Composition and Function of Extracellular Matrix in Development of Skeletal Muscle**

Zishuai Wang and Zhonglin Tang

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/62645

#### **Abstract**

[66] Rehn TA, Borge BA, Lunde PK, Munkvik M, Sneve ML, Grøndahl F, Aronsen JM, Sjaastad I, Prydz K, Kolset SO, Wiig H, Sejersted OM, Iversen PO: Temporary fatigue and altered extracellular matrix in skeletal muscle during progression of heart failure in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009;297:R26–R33. DOI: 10.1152/

ajpregu.90617.2008

24 Composition and Function of the Extracellular Matrix in the Human Body

Skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM), surrender of muscle fibers, the amount of which is just <5%, appeals less attention in the field of skeletal muscle physiology. Thus, at one time, the function of skeletal muscle ECM was arbitrarily considered as general structural support that is typical in other tissues. However, an increasing number of recent evidences have indicated that the ECM plays a critical role in muscle fiber force transmission, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and polarization of cells. Alterations of molecules within the ECM are involved in fibrosis, muscle aging, regeneration, and myopathies. In this chapter, we review the composition and func‐ tions of ECM in skeletal muscle development.

**Keywords:** extracellular matrix, skeletal muscle, myogenesis, regeneration, fibrosis, myopathies
