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The parallel muscle architecture is found in muscles where the fibers are parallel to the force-generating axis. [1] These muscles are often used for fast or extensive movements and can be measured by the anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA). [3] Parallel muscles can be further defined into three main categories: strap, fusiform, or fan-shaped.
It is typically used to describe the contraction properties of pennate muscles. [1] It is not the same as the anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), which is the area of the crossection of a muscle perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. In a non-pennate muscle the fibers are parallel to the longitudinal axis, and therefore PCSA and ACSA coincide.
A pennate or pinnate muscle (also called a penniform muscle) is a type of skeletal muscle with fascicles that attach obliquely (in a slanting position) to its tendon. This type of muscle generally allows higher force production but a smaller range of motion. [1] [2] When a muscle contracts and shortens, the pennation angle increases. [3]
The usual arrangements are types of parallel, and types of pennate muscle. In parallel muscles, the fascicles run parallel to the axis of force generation, but the fascicles can vary in their relationship to one another, and to their tendons. [28] These variations are seen in fusiform, strap, and convergent muscles. [4]
For a pennate muscle, cosΦ is always less than 1, meaning that the distance ac is always shorter than the distance ab, thus the muscle fiber shortening is 'amplified' by a factor of 1/cosΦ. Architectural gear ratio , also called anatomical gear ratio (AGR) is a feature of pennate muscle defined by the ratio between the longitudinal strain of ...
Plyometrics, also known as jump training or plyos, are exercises in which muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing power (speed-strength). This training focuses on learning to move from a muscle extension to a contraction in a rapid or "explosive" manner, such as in specialized repeated jumping. [1]
An impulse from a nerve cell causes calcium release and brings about a single, short muscle contraction called a muscle twitch. If there is a problem at the neuromuscular junction, a very prolonged contraction may occur, such as the muscle contractions that result from tetanus. Also, a loss of function at the junction can produce paralysis. [5]
Depiction of smooth muscle contraction. Muscle contraction is the activation of tension-generating sites within muscle cells. [1] [2] In physiology, muscle contraction does not necessarily mean muscle shortening because muscle tension can be produced without changes in muscle length, such as when holding something heavy in the same position. [1]