A Skeletal Muscle Fiber Can Contract Until It Has Shortened

Question

A skeletal muscle fiber can contract until it has shortened by about
A)20 percent.
B)25 percent.
C)30 percent.
D)40 percent.
E)50 percent.

Accepted Answer

A skeletal muscle fiber can typically contract until it has shortened by about 30 percent of its resting length. This is due to the overlap of thick and thin filaments within the muscle fiber's sarcomeres, which reach a point where they inhibit further shortening.