Exam 3 Whole Muscle Mechanics Flashcards
Tendons and CT of muscles are
vasoelastic
Viscoelasticity
ability of material to be deformed based on forced placed on it; help determine the mechanical properties of muscles during contraction and during passive extension
Contractile component of muscle
actin-myosin cross bridges
Series elastic component of muscle
Tendon + contractile proteins
Parallel elastic component
endo, peri, epimysium
Functions of viscoelastic components
keep muscle in ready position for contraction; assist muscles in smoothly transmitting tension during contraction; assist contractile elements return to resting position; prevent passive overstretch of contractile elements; assist muscle in generating forces
Characteristics and functions of series elastic component
tendons are in “series” with muscle fibers; whent eh SEC is stretch, energy is stored similar to stretching a spring (SEC increases tension generated in whole muscle by storing energy when stretched and releasing it as recoil); SEC provides for recoil of stretched muscle tissue to aid in return to resting length (aids in tension generation during active contraction)
Characteristics and functions of Parallel elastic component
Epimysium, perimysium, endomysium are in parallel with muscle fibers: act like a spring by storing energy when stretched; for muscles stretched beyond resting length, energy stored in PEC; PEC assisted in force production in stretched muscles
Concentric contraction
Muscle shortens during contraction
Eccentric contraction
muscle lengthens during contraction
Isometric contraction
Muscle length remains the same
All contractions have an isometric component when
Starting from rest (tension generating phase of concentric/eccentric contractions)
Isometric contraction
muscle does not shorten during contraction
Isotonic contraction
Muscle shortens but tension remains the same during contraction (concentric and eccentric contractions are considered to be isotonic)
Isokinetic contraction
Muscle shortens at the same rate, but contraction force differs throughout the range of motion
Resting sarcomere length
2.0-2.25 um; point of maximal force generation of sarcomere
Actin overlaps all myosin globular heads for full cross-bridging (no more cross-bridges available to increase tension)
As sarcomere lengthens beyond 2.25um , less than maximal tension can be produced (not all cross-bridge sites are capable of being bound)
At sarcomere length of 3.6 micrometers,
no overlap of myofilaments, thus no tension can be created
As sarcomere shortens < 2.0 um
less than maximal can be produced
between 1.65-2.0 um
thin filaments overlap each other (hinders the ability of actin to “slide” over myosin
At sarcomere length of <1.65 um
The thick filament (myosin) abuts the Z-line; minimal tension can be developed as there is no “room” for filaments to slide.
Passive tension
Tension is created by connective tissue of whole muscle when muscle is stretched; stretch of SEC and PEC of the muscle is responsible for this passive tension; Tension in SEC/PEC provide tension generation for stretched muscle to make up for sub-optimal length-tension of muscle fibers; most important in two-joint muscles (e.g. hamstrings, gastrocnemius, rectus femoris)
Active tension
tension developed by contractile elements of muscle; in whole muscle, the total strength of contraction is comprised of: actin-myosin sliding filaments (active tension), tension (passive) from PEC and SEC