Mechanical properties of cat tenuissimus muscle

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Abstract
Mechanical properties of a mammalian skeletal muscle, cat tenuissimus, were studied. Muscles 2-4 cm in length were mounted in a muscle chamber with one end attached to a capacitance force transducer, the other to an isotonic lever (25:1 ratio, equivalent mass 200 mg) linked to a capacitance displacement transducer. Both outputs were coupled to Dynagage-tuned circuits and displayed on a dual-beam cathode-ray oscilloscope. Muscles were stimulated through massive platinum electrodes using square waves of 1-msec. duration. Measurements were made at 37 C. Tetanic tension (Po) averaged 1.4 kg/cm2. Tetanus-twitch ratio was approximately 5.2. Duration of active state, estimated by separation of the twitch and tetanus derivatives, averaged 3 msec. The force-velocity relation appeared compatible with Hill''s characteristic equation, with the following mean values for the constants: a = 4.4 g; b = 5.0 cm/sec; a/P0 = 0.27; b/l0 = 2.0; V0 = 7.0 l0/sec. Series elasticity, calculated from force-velocity and tension-time curves, averaged 11.4% l0; this estimate was reduced about 50% when determined by controlled releases. Parallel elasticity and the length-tension relation also appeared to be similar to those observed in frog muscle.

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