Fig. 1.

The dynamics of cytoskeleton networks can be described in a continuum framework using coordinate transformations. The cartoon shows incremental growth and deformation that produce successive material frames X ≡ x₀, x₁ …, x_k. At each step, the shape changes can be described by the deformation tensor, F_k = ∂x_k/∂x_k–1. Successive incremental deformations generate large overall deformations. The deformation is due to a combination of cytoskeletal growth/shrinking, and mechanical deformation. See the Appendix for a complete development of the mathematical framework.