Abstract
Series elasticity in skeletal muscle is considered to be of great importance for muscle functioning in several ways. For example, in movement control studies, the musculo-skeletal system is often modelled as a mass-spring complex, in which the stiffness characteristics of the springs determine a joint equilibrium position which will be obtained at certain activation levels of the muscles (Schmidt, 1982). This type of modelling is also applied for studying mammalian running gaits with respect to movement speed, type of gait and energy expenditure [McMahon, 1985; Chapter 37 (McMahon); Taylor, 1985]. Furthermore, the series elastic element (SE) takes up part of length changes of the muscle-tendon complex, which means that the contractile element (CE) does not “see” all of the muscle-tendon complex movement [see also Chapter 38 (Hof)]. An approach in principle similar to these behavioral models can be applied to series elastic tendinous structures (i.e., part of SE) and muscle fibers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alexander, R.S. and Johnson, P.D. (1965) Muscle stretch and theories of contraction. Am. J. Physiol., 208: 412–416.
Bahler, A.S. (1967) Series elastic component of mam-malian skeletal muscle. Am. J. Physiol., 213: 1560–1564.
Blangé T., Karemaker, J.M. and Kramer, A.E.J.L. (1972) Elasticity as an expression of cross-bridge activity in rat muscle. Pflugers Archiv., 336: 277–288.
Blangé T., Stienen, G.J.M. and Treijtel, B.W. (1985) Active stiffness in frog skinned muscle fibres at different Ca concentrations. J. Physiol., 366: 65 P.
Bobbert, M.F., Ettema, G.J.C. and Huijing, P.A. (1990) The force-length relationship of a muscle-tendon complex: experimental results and model calculations. Eur. J. appl. Physiol., accepted.
Bressler, B.H. and Clinch, N.F. (1974) The compliance of contracting skeletal muscle. J. Physiol., 237: 477–493.
Bressler, B.H. and Clinch, N.F. (1975) Cross bridges as the major source of compliance in contracting skeletal muscle. Nature, 256: 221–222.
Cavagna, G.A. (1977) Storage and utilization of elastic energy in skeletal muscle. Exercise Sport Sci. Rev., 5: 89–129.
Close, R.I. (1972) Dynamic properties of mammalian skeletal muscles. Physiol. Rev., 52: 129–197.
Ettema, G.J.C. and Huijing, P.A. (1989) Properties of the tendinous structures and series elastic component of EDL muscle-tendon complex of the rat. J. Biomech., 22: 1209–1215.
Ettema, G.J.C. and Huijing, P.A. (1990) Contributions to compliance of series elastic component by tendinous structures and cross-bridges in rat muscle-tendon complexes. Submitted to J. Biomech.
Ford, L.E., Huxley, A.F. and Simmons, R.M. (1981) The relation between stiffness and filament overiap in stimulated frog muscle fibres. J. Physiol., 311: 219–249.
Haan, A. de, Ingen Schenau, G.J. van, Ettema, G.J., Huijing, P.A. and Lodder, M.A.N. (1989) Efficiency of rat medial gastrocnemius muscle in contractions with and without an active prestretch. J. Exp. Biol., 141: 327–341.
Huijing, P.A. and Ettema, G.J.C. (1988/89) Length- force characteristics of aponeurosis in passive muscle and during isometric and slow dynamic contractions of rat gastrocnemius muscle. Acta Morphol. Neerl.-Scand., 26: 51–62.
Huijing, P.A. and Woittiez, R.D. (1984) The effect of architecture on skeletal muscle performance: A simple planimetric model. Neth. J. Zool., 34: 21–32.
Huijing, P.A. and Woittiez, R.D. (1985) Notes on planimetric and three-dimensional muscle models. Neth. J. Zool., 35: 521–525.
Ingen Schenau, G.J. van, Bobbert, M.F., Ettema, G.J., de Graaf, J.B. and Huijing, P.A. (1988) A simulation of rat EDL force output based on intrinsic muscle properties. J. Biomech., 21: 815–824.
Jewell, B.R. and Wilkie, D.R. (1958) An analysis of the mechanical components in frog’s striated muscle. J. Physiol., 143: 515–540.
Joyce, G.C. and Rack, P.M.H. (1969) Isotonic lengthening and shortening movements of cat soleus muscle. J. Physiol., 204: 475–491.
Komi, P.V. (1984) Physiological and biomechanical correlates of muscle function: effects of muscle structure and stretch-shortening cycle on force and speed. Exercise Sport Sci. Rev., 12: 81–121.
Maier, A., Eldred, E. and Edgerton, V.R. (1972) The effects on spindles of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. Exp. Neurol., 37: 100–123.
McMahon, T.A. (1985) The role of compliance in mammalian running gaits. J. Exp. Biol., 115: 263–282.
Morgan, D.L. (1977) Separation of active and passive components of short-range stiffness of muscle. Am. J. Physiol, 232: C45–C49.
Morgan, D.L., Proske, U. and Warren, D. (1978) Measurements of muscle stiffness and the mechanism of elastic storage of energy in hopping kangaroos. J. Physiol., 282: 253–261.
Otten, E. (1985) Morphometries and force-length relations of skeletal muscle. In Biomechanics IX-AA (ed. D.A. Winter). Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetic Publishers, pp. 27–32.
Otten, E. (1988) Concepts and models of functional architecture in skeletal muscle. Exercise Sport Sci. Rev., 16: 89–137.
Proske, U. and Morgan, D.L. (1984) Stiffness of cat soleus muscle and tendon during activation of part of muscle. J. Neurophysiol., 52: 459–468.
Proske, U. and Morgan, D.L. (1987) Tendon stiffness: methods of measurement and significance for the control of movement, a review. J. Biomech., 20: 75–82.
Rack, P.M.H., Ross, H.F., Thilmann, A.F. and Walters, D.K.W. (1983) Reflex responses at the human ankle: the importance of tendon compliance. J. Physiol., 344: 503–524.
Rack, P.M.H. and Ross, H.F. (1984) The tendon of flexor pollicis longus: its effects on the muscular control of force and position at the human thumb. J. Physiol., 351: 99–110.
Rack, P.M.H. and Westbury, D.R. (1984) Elastic properties of the cat soleus tendon and their functional importance. J. Physiol, 347: 479–495.
Schmidt, R.A. (1982) Motor Control and Learning. A Behavioral Emphasis. Human Kinetic Publishers, Champaign, Illinois, pp. 267–270.
Stephenson, D.G., Stewart, A.W. and Wilson, G.J. (1989) Dissociation of force from myofibrillar MgATPase and stiffness at short sarcomere lengths in rat and toad skeletal muscle. J. Physiol., 410: 351–366.
Sugi, H. and Tameyasu, T. (1979) The origin of the instanteneous elasticity in single frog muscle fibres. Experientia, 35: 227–228.
Taylor, C.R. (1985) Force development during sustained locomotion: A determinant of gait, speed and metabolic power. J. Exp. Biol, 115: 253–262.
Walmsley, B. and Proske, U. (1981) Comparison of stiffness of soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles in cats. J. Neurophysiol., 46: 250–259.
Woittiez, R.D., Huijing, P.A., Boom, H.B.K. and Rozendal, R.H. (1984) A three dimensional muscle model: A quantified relation between form and function of skeletal muscles. J. Morphol., 182: 95–113.
Zajac, F.E., Topp, E.L. and Stevenson, P.J. (1986) A dimensionless musculotendon model. Proc. 8th ann. conf. of IEEE Engng. in Med. and Biology Soc. IEEE, Piscataway NJ, pp. 601–604.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer-Verlag, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ettema, G.J.C., Huijing, P.A. (1990). Architecture and Elastic Properties of the Series Elastic Element of Muscle-Tendon Complex. In: Winters, J.M., Woo, S.LY. (eds) Multiple Muscle Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9030-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9030-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9032-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9030-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive