Link to HAL – pasteur-05257505
Link to DOI – 10.1016/B978-0-443-13820-1.00143-2
The coordinated development of muscles, tendons, and their attachment sites in crucial for the formation of functionalmusculoskeletal units tailored to the specific anatomical needs of various species. Skeletal muscles exhibit a range of distinctfeatures depending on their anatomical disposition, but they all rely on myotendinous anchorage for their contractilefunction. In this article we discuss the unique characteristics of extraocular muscles (EOMs), which differ significantly fromother skeletal muscles in their developmental origins, morphogenesis, and contractile properties. EOMs deploy distinct generegulatory networks (GRNs) in their muscle stem (satellite) cells (MuSCs) and myofibres, thereby reflecting their specialisedanatomical, functional, and evolutionary features. By exploring the properties of EOMs, we expect to gain insights into theunique underlying mechanisms that regulate their development and function and enhance our understanding of muscleresilience and pathology.