L5.3.3: Skeletal Muscle Contraction

• SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION

  ● Muscle fiber contraction is “all or none”

  ● Within a skeletal muscle, not all fibers may be stimulated during the same interval

  ● Different combinations of muscle fiber contractions may give differing responses

  ● Graded responses — different degrees of skeletal muscle shortening

  ● Graded responses can be produced by changing:

  ○ The frequency of muscle stimulation

  ○ The number of muscle cells being stimulated at one time