The shorter a muscle fibre is before the onset of a contraction, the greater the force that can be developed upon the subsequent contraction because the thin filaments are already partially slid inward.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force a muscle can develop during a contraction is actually greater when the muscle fiber starts from a slightly stretched position rather than a shortened one. This is because the optimal overlap between actin and myosin filaments (thin and thick filaments, respectively) for force generation is not achieved when the fiber is too short.

The Shorter a Muscle Fibre Is Before the Onset of a Contraction