Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Muscle tension is the force generated by a muscle or group of muscles when they contract in response to signals from the nervous system. It varies depending on the number of muscle fibers contracting and their rate of contraction.
The neuromuscular junction is the site where a motor neuron's terminal meets the muscle fiber, facilitating neurotransmitter release to trigger muscle contraction.