Compared with Parallel Muscles, Pennate Muscles

Question

Compared with parallel muscles, pennate muscles
A) produce less force and undergo greater shortening.
B) produce more force and undergo greater shortening.
C) produce less force and undergo less shortening.
D) produce more force and undergo less shortening.

Accepted Answer

Pennate muscles have a higher number of muscle fibers per unit area, enabling them to produce more force than parallel muscles. However, because the fibers are not arranged in a straight line, they undergo less shortening compared to parallel muscles.