Sherwood- Chapter 8

Objective:  To understand that the number of fibers contracting within a muscle depends on the extent of motor unit recruitment.

1.  Muscle tension
        a.  number of muscle fibers contracting
        b.  tension developed by each contracting fiber
2.  Motor unit is one motor neuron plus all the muscle fibers it innervates
3.  Strength of contraction
        a.  size of motor units
        b.  number of muscle fibers controlled by a single motor neuron
4.  Factors influencing the extent to which tension can be developed
        a.  frequency of stimulation
        b.  length of fiber at the onset of contraction
        c.  extent of fatigue
        d.  thickness of the fiber
5.  Skeletal muscle metabolism and fiber types