IS HUMAN SKELETAL-MUSCLE CAPILLARY SUPPLY MODELED ACCORDING TO FIBER SIZE OR FIBER-TYPE

Analysis of muscle capillary supply usually relies on estimating eithe r the numerical capillary to fibre ratio or capillary density. Both in dices are scale dependent, i.e. they vary with fibre size, We have exa mined the use of an alternative approach based on the anatomical suppl y area of individual capillaries, which allows the calculation of a lo cal capillary to fibre ratio or density based on area, rather than num ber of fibres. The results suggest that, in human skeletal muscle, cap illary supply is primarily scaled according to fibre size, and is rela tively independent of fibre type.