Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Load (P/P
o
)
FIGURE 13.22
The force-velocity curve.
and
P
o
is the isometric tension (the largest weight that the muscle can move) for maximally
stimulated muscle. This curve is usually referred to as the
.
Clearly, the force-velocity curve is nonlinear and follows a hyperbolic shape. If a smaller
stimulus than maximum is used to stimulate the muscle, then a family of force-velocity
curves results, as shown in Figure 13.23. Each curve is generated with a different active-state
force-velocity curve
5000
4000
3000
1.4N
2000
1.0N
0.6N
1000
0.2N
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
Load (P/P
o
)
FIGURE 13.23
Family of force-velocity curves for active-state tensions ranging from 1.4 to 0.2 N.
