Describe what would happen in the following experiment: A 2.5-g weight is attached to the end of the isolated wholeskeletal musc
le used in these experiments. Simultaneously, the muscle is maximally stimulated by 8.5 volts and the platformsupporting the weight is removed. Will the muscle generate force? Will the muscle change length? What is the name for thistype of contraction?
The answers have been explained below in separate paragraphs -
Explanation:
Yes, after stimulation, the muscle will generate force but the reaction of the muscle will not be visible because the force generated will be of low intensity and passive in nature and the load pulling the muscle downward will not allow it to move under the influence of this force.
After removing the platform the muscle will change length if the weight is still connected to the muscle. The connected weight will pull the muscle downward and as a result the length of the muscle will be increased. This increase in length will not be due to muscle contraction, it will only be due to the force pulling downward.
This type of contraction is termed as isometric contraction in which even though the muscle is activated but it is not allowed to contract or relax due to the presence of an external force.
