Transcript Document
Mechanics of Movement I:
Muscle Force and Action Across Joints
Review
muscle force generation
Muscle Mechanics
--force versus cross section
--length versus strain
Lever mechanics and agonist/antagonists
Stabilizing the joint—isometric and eccentric
contraction
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle Structure Review
Muscle fiber = muscle cell
Fibers lined up = direction of pull
Tendon attaches to bone
Muscle pulls on bone
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle Origin
and Insertion
Origin
Proximal
Fixed
Insertion
Distal
Moves
(usually!!)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Mechanics of Contraction
Muscle fiber is one cell
made up of myofibrils,
each filled with
myofilament proteins
actin and myosin, all lined
up along length of muscle
cell.
Action potential or
depolarization of
membrane releases
calcium
Calcium changes shape
of actin so myosin crossbridges form and “row” or
pull in to center of
sarcomere.
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Visualizing muscle contraction
How actinmyosin complex
(sarcomere)
shortens muscle
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Summary of Muscle Organization/Function
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Summary of Muscle Organization/Function
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Summary of Muscle Organization/Function
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Levels of Muscle
Organization
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle Mechanics:
Cross section versus force
Cross sectional area is proportional
to Force of muscle
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle Mechanics:
length versus force
Force generation depends
on current length of
muscle or overlap in
actin/myosin of
sarcomeres
Muscle force strongest
between 80-120% of
normal resting length—
WHY? (don’t forget role of cross-bridges)
Most muscles arranged to
work in this range
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle Mechanics:
length versus total shortening
Length of muscle is proportional to
ability to shorten (strain)
Short, fat muscles
Number of sarcomeres in series gives
shortening ability
Lots of force
Less shortening range
Long, skinny muscles
Less force
More shortening range
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Types of fascicle arrangements
Affects length and
cross section of
muscle
Thus affects force
and shortening
properties of muscle
See Muscle
Mechanics if this
doesn’t make sense
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Long thin straight muscle versus
short fat pinnate muscle
Sartorius
Tailor’s or hackey-sac
muscle
Longest muscle in
body’
Thin and straight fibers
Low force, great
shortening distance
Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
Short and bulky
Pinnate fibers
Great force, low shortening distance
Pushes off each step—”springloaded”
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Muscle movement across joints
is like lever system
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Agonist/Antagonist muscles
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Stabilization and Control Around Joint
Agonist
Main Mover
E.g. biceps
Antagonist
Opposite
motion
E.g. triceps
Synergist
Aids agonist
E.g. brachialis
Antagonist often “fires” or contracts or is stimulated
simultaneously with agonist to stabilize around joint
during movement
NOTE: Muscle “contraction” or stimulus to “fire”
does not always result in muscle shortening
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement
Relation between muscle contraction
(or “firing”) and shortening
Concentric
contraction—muscle contracts and
shortens to cause movement across joint
Isometric contraction—muscle contracts but
stays same length to hold joint or body in
same position
Eccentric contraction—muscle contracts while
lengthening to stabilize joint during movement
(most common in antagonist to slow
movement caused by agonist)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Mechanics of Movement