Contraction phase

Definition

The contraction phase is the period during which muscle fibers actively shorten to generate force following stimulation by the nervous system. It is a crucial part of muscle movement, where tension in the muscle increases but the length decreases.

Related terms

Motor Unit:

A motor unit consists of one motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates, working together to produce a coordinated contraction.

Action Potential:

An action potential is an electrical impulse that travels along the membrane of a neuron or muscle cell, leading to muscle contraction.

Sliding Filament Theory:

This theory explains how muscles contract at the molecular level, with actin and myosin filaments sliding past each other to shorten the overall length of a muscle fiber