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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
Published on: November 1, 2012
Contractile performance of striated muscle
1Department of Experimental Medical Science, Biomedical Centre, University of Lund, Sweden. paul.edman@farm.lu.se
Abstract:
The single muscle fiber preparation provides an excellent tool for studying the mechanical behaviour of the contractile system at sarcomere level. The present article gives an overview of studies based on intact single fibers from frog and mouse skeletal muscle. The following aspects of muscle function are treated: (1) The length-tension relationship. (2) The biphasic force-velocity relationship. (3) The maximum speed of shortening, its independence of sarcomere length and degree of activation. (4) Force enhancement during stretch, its relation to sarcomere length and myofilament lattice width. (5) Residual force enhancement after stretch. (6) Force reduction after loaded shortening. (7) Deactivation by active shortening. (8) Differences in kinetic properties along individual muscle fibers.
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