Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Pumping Muscle

Mapping mitochondria (the cell's 'power stations') - understanding how they deliver energy differently in various muscle types and disease

22 December 2018

Pumping Muscle

Our muscles are thirsty for energy – each bend and flex requires a supply of cellular fuel, known as ATP. In these three sections of mouse muscle (shown from two different angles), bright colours highlight mitochondria – tiny biological 'factories' which pump out ATP. Yet patterns of mitochondria vary between different muscles. On the left, foot muscle produces ATP in short bursts, lacking the larger networks of mitochondria which help calf muscle (middle) maintain a slow, steady supply. Cardiac muscle from the mouse’s heart (right) has densely-packed, large mitochondria – adapted, perhaps, to direct a constant flow of ATP around this vital organ. Understanding these mitochondrial networks, a bit like mapping pylons and power stations supplying a city (although billions of times smaller), may help to predict and plan for a power cut – when mitochondrial disease or muscle injury threatens to rob human muscles of energy.

Written by John Ankers

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.