Module 1.4 Muscle force regulation

Question 1

What are the three factors that influence force produced by the muscle?

Answer 1

1. The force developed by each individual muscle fibre
2. The number of muscle fibres contracting within a muscle
3. The cross-sectional area of muscle

Question 2

Explain how frequency of stimulation influences the force developed by each muscle fibre

Answer 2

For a muscle fibre to produce a sustained maximal contraction, there is a requirement for repeated action potentials that arrive before the muscle fibre can relax.