Sumation of contraction
a. summation of stimuli
Wave summation occurs when a muscle is stimulated rapidly enough that it does not have time to completely relax between stimuli, causing the contractions to combine or "summate" to produce a stronger muscle contraction. This phenomenon can occur during repetitive or sustained muscle activity, leading to increased muscle force production.
The voltage that produces maximal contraction of a muscle is called the maximal stimulus voltage. This voltage is typically higher than the threshold voltage required to elicit a muscle contraction and ensures that all muscle fibers within a motor unit are stimulated to contract simultaneously, leading to a stronger contraction.
Skeletal muscle twitch is a single, brief contraction and relaxation cycle, whereas a tetanic contraction involves sustained, rapid repeated contractions without relaxation in between. Tetanic contractions occur when the muscle is stimulated at a high frequency, leading to a fused contraction.
Threshold stimulus is defined as the minimum level of stimulus intensity that is required to trigger a response in a neuron or muscle fiber. This level must be reached for action potentials to be generated, leading to muscle contraction or nerve signal transmission. If the stimulus is below this threshold, no response occurs, highlighting the all-or-nothing principle of action potentials.
Summation and/or tetanic contraction. Summation is increased muscle contraction until maximal sustained contraction is achieved. Tetanic contraction is sustained muscle contraction without relaxation. If you're inquiring for the Learning Objective Review in an anatomy and physiology course, the question refers to a condition in which some fibers are always contracted... so I'm not sure if they're looking for summation or tetanic contraction - but I think it would be tetanic contraction as summation is more the process leading up to the tetanic contraction...
Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMIs) refer to a range of conditions caused by repeated movements or sustained postures that lead to damage in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Common examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and bursitis. These injuries often result from activities that require repetitive tasks or prolonged strain, leading to pain and dysfunction over time. Preventive measures include ergonomic adjustments, regular breaks, and proper techniques during repetitive activities.
Immediately following the hydrolysis of ATP during muscle contraction, the energy released is used to power the movement of myosin heads on the actin filaments, leading to muscle contraction. This process involves the myosin head binding to actin, forming a cross-bridge, and then performing a power stroke that pulls the actin filament inward. As a result, the muscle fibers shorten, generating force. The cycle continues as more ATP is hydrolyzed, allowing for sustained contraction.
The fusion frequency is the minimum stimulus required to elicit tetanus in a muscle. For example, the fusion frequency can be given in terms of volts (V), or it can be given in terms of whatever units by which the applied stimuli are being measured.
Sustained, catch up, point
As the firing rate of a somatic motor neuron increases, the muscle fiber experiences a greater frequency of action potentials, leading to more frequent contractions. This can result in a stronger force of contraction due to summation, where the muscle fibers do not have enough time to fully relax between stimuli. If the firing rate is sufficiently high, this can lead to tetanus, where the muscle remains in a sustained contraction. Overall, increased firing rates enhance the muscle's contraction strength and efficiency.
"Collision above threshold" refers to a scenario in particle physics where two particles collide with enough energy to overcome a certain minimum energy requirement, or threshold. This threshold is necessary for producing new particles or triggering specific interactions. If the energy in the collision exceeds this threshold, it can result in the creation of additional particles, leading to observable effects or reactions.