Stress relaxation compared with relaxation after contraction in smooth muscles.
The time courses of relaxation after contraction and of stress relaxation were found to be different. In the first case, but not in the latter, the time curves have a sigmoid shape. Furthermore, stress relaxation is characterized by a remaining higher resting tension. The differences can be explained by different functional conditions underlying both events.
D000818:Animals; D006372:Helix, Snails; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors