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The Significance of Motor Unit Variability in Sustaining Mechanical Output of Muscle

  • Chapter
Fatigue

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 384))

Abstract

Neuromuscular function and fatigue have been studied using a wide variety of preparations. These range from sections of single fibers from which the cell membrane has been removed to whole muscles or groups of muscles acting about a joint in the intact animal. Each type of preparation has its merits and limitations. There is no ideal preparation; rather the question to be answered will determine the most appropriate model in each case and sometimes a combination of approaches will be needed. In particular, it is important to understand how the mechanical output of whole muscle can be sustained to meet the demands of a task and to take into account the organized variability of the constituent motor units.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Muscle and Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije University, Van der Boechorstraat 9, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    A. J. Sargeant

  2. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    D. A. Jones

Authors
  1. A. J. Sargeant
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  2. D. A. Jones
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Simon C. Gandevia

  2. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Roger M. Enoka

  3. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Alan J. McComas

  4. The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Douglas G. Stuart  & Patricia A. Pierce  & 

  5. University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA

    Christine K. Thomas

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Sargeant, A.J., Jones, D.A. (1995). The Significance of Motor Unit Variability in Sustaining Mechanical Output of Muscle. In: Gandevia, S.C., Enoka, R.M., McComas, A.J., Stuart, D.G., Thomas, C.K., Pierce, P.A. (eds) Fatigue. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 384. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1018-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1016-5

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