MUSCLE

MECHANICS
 MUSCLE MECHANICS
Def: The study of the external mechanical
variables given the internal contractile state of
muscle.
Thus, study of the length effects, velocity
effects, power generation, and force generation
in a muscle
 MUSCLE MECHANICS: LENGTH
VS. FORCE
Force generation depends on current length of
muscle or overlap in actin/myosin of
sarcomeres

So far, muscle force strongest between 80-120%

of normal resting lengthWHY?

Most muscles arranged to work in this range

LENGTH VS. TOTAL SHORTENING

Length of muscle is proportional to ability to

shorten (strain)
Number of sarcomeres in series gives shortening
ability
Short, fat muscles
Lots of force
Less shortening range
Long, skinny muscles
Less force
More shortening range
 LONG THIN STRAIGHT MUSCLE
VERSUS SHORT FAT PENNATE MUSCLE

Sartorius
Tailors or hackey-sac
muscle
Longest muscle in body
Thin and straight fibers
Low force, great
shortening distance
Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
Short and bulky
Pinnate fibers
Great force, low shortening
distance
Pushes off each step
spring-loaded
In single muscle
fibres and
isolated muscle
preparations,
force generation
is at its peak
when the muscle
is at normal
resting length
(neither
stretched nor
contracted).
 FORCE-LENGTH RELATIONSHIP
Within the human body, however, force
generation capability increases when the muscle
is slightly stretched.
Parallel-fiber muscles produce maximum
tensions at just over resting length, and pennate
fiber muscles generate maximum tensions at
between 120% and 130% of resting length.
This phenomenon is due to the contribution of
the elastic components of muscle (primarily the
SEC), which add to the tension present in the
muscle when the muscle is stretched
FORCE-LENGTH RELATIONSHIP
When a muscle is actively stretched, the SEC
causes an elastic recoil effect, and the stretch
reflex simultaneously initiates the development
of tension in the muscle.
Thus, a stretch promotes subsequent forceful
shortening of the muscle.
This pattern of eccentric contraction, followed
immediately by concentric contraction, is
known as the stretch-shortening cycle.
 LENGTH VS. TENSION RELATIONSHIP
Force is dependent on the number of cross
bridges formed.
The greater the number of x bridges, the greater the
force.
Active Component
Therefore, force generation is dependent on the
amount of overlap between thin and thick
myofilament.
However, muscle also has connective tissue
that behaves somewhat like a stiff elastic band.
Passive Component
 Muscle-Tendon Model

3 components
CC
contractile component

SEC
series elastic
component PEC
parallel elastic component
 Muscle Model
Contractile Component (CC)

CC active shortening of muscle through

actin-myosin structures
Parallel Elastic Component (PEC)
parallel to the contractile element of
SEC the muscle
the connective tissue network residing
in the perimysium, epimysium and
PEC other connective tissues which
surround the muscle fibers
Series Elastic Component (SEC)
in series with the contractile
component
resides in the cross-bridges between
the actin and myosin filaments and the
tendons
 Tissue

Sarcomere Organization
the number of sarcomeres in series or in
parallel will help determine the properties
of a muscle

3 sarcomeres in series 3 sarcomeres in parallel

(high velocity/ROM orientation) (high force orientation)
The values are not representative of actual
sarcomeres.

1 3 sarcomeres 3 sarcomeres
sarcomere in series in parallel
Force 1N 1N 3N
ROM 1 cm 3 cm 1 cm
Time 1 sec 1 sec 1 sec
Velocity 1 cm/sec 3 cm/sec 1 cm/sec
 Architectural Gear Ratio (AGR)

Low gear ratio

High gear ratio
Contraction velocity Whole muscle muscle
Approximately 1:1 ratio
ratio (muscle/fiber) fiber
Force developed by
Low-force contractions High-force contractions
whole muscle
Velocity developed by High-velocity Low-velocity
whole muscle contractions contractions