Bipennate

Definition

A bipennate muscle is one where the muscle fibers are arranged on both sides of a central tendon, resembling the structure of a feather. This arrangement allows for greater force generation than unipennate muscles.

Related terms

Unipennate:

A unipennate muscle has fibers that are oriented at an angle to the tendon, but only on one side, similar to half of a bipennate muscle's structure.

Multipennate:

A multipennate muscle has multiple rows of diagonal fibers, with a central tendon branching into several tendons, allowing for even greater force production.

Fascicle:

A bundle of skeletal muscle fibers surrounded by perimysium, arranged in various patterns that affect the muscle's function and strength