Frequency-domain study of the mechanical response of living striated muscle

Small-amplitude sinusoidal displacements, in the frequency range 4-100 Hz, were applied to intact whole frog sartorius muscle whilst in a state of tetanus. At low frequencies the muscle was observed to do oscillatory work, while at higher frequencies it tended towards elastic behaviour. Frequency-response plots obtained were compared with those from other muscle preparations. Results were interpreted in terms of mechano-chemical transduction properties of muscle.