Wave summation

Definition

Wave summation is the phenomenon where muscle fibers produce stronger contractions by being stimulated rapidly before they can fully relax from a previous stimulus. This results in an increased force of contraction due to the additive effect of individual muscle twitch contractions.

Related terms

Muscle Twitch:

A single, rapid contraction and relaxation cycle of a muscle fiber in response to a single stimulus.

Tetanus:

A sustained muscle contraction that occurs when the frequency of stimulation is so high that no relaxation phase is observed between stimuli.

Motor Unit:

Consists of one motor neuron and all the skeletal muscle fibers it innervates, working together to facilitate muscle contraction