Explain how whole muscles respond in a graded fashionand how the force of contraction can be increased

Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Chapter6: The Muscular System
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 6RQ: Explain why (a) calcium ions and (b) ACh are vital for muscle contraction.
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Explain how whole muscles respond in a graded fashion
and how the force of contraction can be increased

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At the neuromuscular junction, the location where the motor neuron binds to the muscle, force in the skeletal muscles is graded by regulating the strength of the firing of impulses. A difference in muscle tension is often enabled by a graded muscle response.

A single reaction to a specific stimulus is a muscle twitch. Due to the form of muscle cells engaged, muscle twitches differ in duration. There are fast-twitch muscles like those that drive the eyeball that achieves full contraction in 3 to 5 milliseconds (ms). Cells like the postural muscles (for example, back muscles) are classified as slow-twitch muscles that have twitches that achieve maximal stress in approximately 40 ms.

As part of ordinary muscle reactions, these muscle twitches are not used. Graded contractions, contractions of whole muscles that may differ in strength and intensity of contraction, are used in twitches instead. In addition, even relaxed muscles are continuously activated to create a muscle tone, the minimum possible graded contraction.

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