title: Muscle architecture of the human lower limb.
abstract: The architectural features of the major knee extensors and flexors and ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors were determined in three human cadavers. There was marked uniformity of fiber length throughout a given muscle and a trend toward similar fiber lengths within muscles of a synergistic group. Muscle length/fiber length ratios were remarkably similar for all three limbs. Angles of fiber pinnation were relatively small (0 degree-15 degrees) and generally consistent throughout the muscle. From these architectural data, the performance of a muscle was studied with respect to its tension production and velocity of shortening potentials. The tension is a function of the number of sarcomeres in parallel, and the velocity of shortening is a function of the number of sarcomeres in series. Muscles were grouped according to whether they showed a predilection for tension or velocity of shortening.
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000648:ultrastructure