The Principles of Biology, Volume 2 (of 2)Spencer, Herbert
Science
The Principles of Biology, Volume 2 (of 2)
Spencer, Herbert
Biology
The question remaining to be asked is--What causes the specialization
of contractile substance?--What causes the growth of colloid masses
which monopolize this contractility, and leave kindred colloids to
monopolize other properties? Has natural selection gradually localized
and increased the primordial muscular substance? or has the frequent
recurrence of irritations and consequent contractions at particular
parts done it? We have, I think, reason to conclude that direct
equilibration rather than indirect equilibration has been chiefly
operative. The reasoning that was used in the case of nerve applies
equally in the case of muscle. A portion of undifferentiated tissue
containing a predominance of the colloid that contracts in changing,
will, during each change, tend to form new molecules of its own type
from the other colloids diffused through it: the tendency of these
entangled colloids to fall into unity with those around them, will
be aided by every shock of isomeric transformation. Hence, repeated
contractions will further the growth of the contracting mass, and
advance its differentiation and integration. If, too, we remember that
the muscular colloid is made to contract by mechanical disturbance, and
that among mechanical disturbances one which will most readily affect
it simultaneously throughout its mass is caused by stretching, we
shall be considerably helped towards understanding how the contractile
tissues are developed. If extension of a muscular colloid previously
at rest, produces in it that molecular disturbance which leads to
isomeric change and decrease of bulk, then there is no difficulty in
explaining the movements of cilia; the formation of a contractile
layer in the vascular system becomes comprehensible; each dilatation
of a blood-vessel caused by a gush of blood, will be followed by a
constriction; the heart will pulsate violently in proportion as it is
violently distended; arteries will develop in power as the stress upon
them becomes greater; and we shall similarly have an explanation of the
increased muscularity of the alimentary canal which is brought about by
increased distension of it.
That the production of contractile tissue in certain localities,
is due to the more frequent excitement in those localities of the
contractility possessed by undifferentiated tissue in general, is a
view harmonizing with traits which the differentiated contractile
tissue exhibits. These are the relations between muscular exercise,
muscular power, and muscular structure; and it is the more needful
for us here to notice them because of certain anomalies they present,
which, at first sight, seem inconsistent with the belief that the
functionally-determined modifications of muscle are inheritable.
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