Fast and slow twitch units in a human muscle.

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry ·Vol. 34 ·No. 2 ·1971-04-00 ·Pages 113-20

Sica RE, McComas AJ

Abstract

A study has been made of the isometric twitches of single motor units in the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB) muscle in man. The twitch contraction times ranged from 35 to 98 msec and the pooled results indicated the presence of at least two types of unit. The recorded twitch tensions also varied considerably (from 2 to 14 g) but were not related to the twitch speeds. The twitch tension developed by the whole EHB muscle depended on the initial length of the muscle and on the age of the subject. The EHB muscle was estimated to contain approximately 56 motor units.

MeSH Terms

Adolescent Adult Age Factors Aged Child Child, Preschool Electric Stimulation Evoked Potentials Female Gravitation Hallux/innervation,physiology Humans Male Middle Aged Motor Neurons/physiology Muscle Contraction Muscle Spindles/physiology Muscles/innervation,physiology Neuromuscular Junction/physiology Peroneal Nerve/physiology Reflex Time Factors

Authors & Affiliations

2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Sica R E

McComas A J

References (14)

14 references, click to expand

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Article Info

Journal

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

Abbr.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

ISSN

0022-3050

DOI

10.1136/jnnp.34.2.113

Published

1971-04-00

Pages

113-20

Language

English

Region

England

NLM ID

2985191R

PMCID

PMC493720

Subset

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.34.2.113 PMC Full Text View journal details

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Fast and slow twitch units in a human muscle.

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