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Contractile Performance of Striated Muscle

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Muscle Biophysics

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 682))

Abstract

The single muscle fiber preparation provides an excellent tool for studying the mechanical behaviour of the contractile system at sarcomere level. The present article gives an overview of studies based on intact single fibers from frog and mouse skeletal muscle. The following aspects of muscle function are treated: (1) The length–tension relationship. (2) The biphasic force–velocity relationship. (3) The maximum speed of shortening, its independence of sarcomere length and degree of activation. (4) Force enhancement during stretch, its relation to sarcomere length and myofilament lattice width. (5) Residual force enhancement after stretch. (6) Force reduction after loaded shortening. (7) Deactivation by active shortening. (8) Differences in kinetic properties along individual muscle fibers.

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  1. Department of Experimental Medical Science, Biomedical Centre, University of Lund, Lund, S-221 84, Sweden

    K. A. P. Edman

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Correspondence to K. A. P. Edman .

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  1. McGill University, Pine Avenue West 475, Montreal, H2W 1S4, Québec, Canada

    Dilson E. Rassier

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Edman, K.A.P. (2010). Contractile Performance of Striated Muscle. In: Rassier, D. (eds) Muscle Biophysics. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 682. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6366-6_2

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