Contrast the length-tension relationship for cardiac muscle to that which is found in skeletal muscle. In other words, for each type of muscle, what is the optimal length? How is such an arrangement adaptive to cardiac muscle?

What will be an ideal response?


Unlike skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle does not produce the greatest force at rest length, but at a somewhat longer length. In both cases the optimal length depends on actin-myosin overlap. But when the heart is especially engorged with blood, the ventricles can contract more forcibly to expel the added volume.

Anatomy & Physiology

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