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EnglandPhysical EducationQuick questions
3.1 Applied anatomy and physiology
Quick questions on The neuromuscular system: motor units, muscle fibre types and PNF - AQA A-Level PE
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how does a muscle produce graded force, from gently lifting a pencil to a maximal lift?Show answer
The answer is three mechanisms. Spatial summation recruits more, or larger, motor units to increase force. Wave summation delivers a higher frequency of impulses so individual twitches merge into a stronger, smoother contraction, and at maximal frequency this produces a sustained tetanic contraction.
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