Energy storage tissue in muscle

Why is elastic energy storage important in muscle and tendon?

Elastic energy storage in muscle and tendon is important in at least three contexts (i) metabolic energy savings derived from reduced muscle work, (ii) amplification of muscle-tendon power during jumping, and (iii) stabilization of muscle-tendon force transmission for control of movement.

What is muscle and tendon energy storage?

Muscle and tendon energy storage represents the strain energy that is stored within a muscle-tendon complex as a muscle and tendon are stretched by the force developed by the muscle when it contracts. This energy may be subsequently recovered elastically when the muscle relaxes.

Which energy form can help reduce muscle work demands?

There is, however, another energy form which may help to reduce muscle work demands: elastic energy. When a material is subjected to a force, F, it deforms. During this deformation, the force moves over a finite displacement, x, and thus does work, F x. This work can be stored as elastic potential energy (E elastic).

Why is elastic energy stored within a muscle when it contracts?

Elastic energy that can be stored within a muscle when it contracts is generally associated with its passive force-length properties, because these depend on the amount of non-contractile connective tissue within the muscle.

Do parallel-fibered muscles have elastic energy storage?

For parallel-fibered muscles that have little or no tendon in series with the muscle's fibers, elastic energy storage is limited to parallel and series elastic elements within the muscle, which include the cross-bridges themselves.

How does a striated muscle produce energy?

Striated muscle uses chemical (metabolic) energy to produce force, to move this force over a distance to do work, and to do this work within some time to generate power. The metabolic energy consumed in producing these mechanical outputs is a major component of an organism’s energy budget, particularly during repetitive, cyclical movements.