The shorter a muscle fiber 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 fiber can generate is optimal at a specific length, known as the optimal resting length. If a muscle fiber is too short before contraction, the overlap between actin and myosin filaments is not optimal, reducing the force generated.

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