Force Relationships

Question 1

What is the Tension-Length relationship?

Answer 1

• Relates directly towards the amount of muscle force produced.
• At varying sarcomere lengths.
• And the overlap of myosin + actin filaments.

Question 2

Describe the Tension-Length relationship when a sarcomere is less than optimal length.

Answer 2

• When the muscle contracts beyond optimal length.
• There is less cross-bridge interaction due to too much overlap of the myosin filaments.
• This reduces the tension component.

Question 3

Describe the Tension-Length relationship when a sarcomere is at optimal length.

Answer 3

• At the mid-range at a muscle’s resting length there is optimal overlap of myofilaments.
• This maximises cross-bridge interaction.
• And maximises tension development.

Question 4

Describe the Tension-Length relationship when a sarcomere is greater than the optimal length.

Answer 4

• The muscle is stretched beyond its normal resting state.
• A reduced overlap of myofilaments.
• Resulting in no cross-bridge attachment.
• And no tension development.

Question 5

What is the Force-Velocity relationship?

Answer 5

Describes the inverse relationship between force production and the velocity of movement.

Question 6

With regard to the Force-Velocity relationship describe a concentric relationship.

Answer 6

• As more force is required the rate of velocity is reduced.
• As less force is required the rate of velocity is increased.

Question 7

With regard to the Force-Velocity relationship describe an eccentric relationship.

Answer 7

• As more force is required the rate of velocity increases.
• As less force is required the rate of velocity decreases.