Question

Biology experiment was on the sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle of a cane toad. The element being tested was the peak contractile force (mN) vs. stimulus strength (V) of stimulating electrode. When tested, three different muscle samples showed results of maximum contractile force generated at 550mN, 1000mN and 600mN all with 1V stimulus required for this maximum contraction.

Q. What are the biological reasons for the differences in the comparative analysis, and how do these reasons explain the varied outcomes?

Answer 1

• Here , 3 muscle samples are given same stimulus but force generated differs.
• This can be explained by two properties , peak and latency in comparative analysis.
• Here each sample , when given 1V stimulus takes its own period to respond . This period is called latency.
• After application of stimulus, the nerves produce action potential upon excitation . The number of action potentials a nerve produces is recorded as peaks.
• So, in sarcomeres the nerves produce action potential which gets transffered to muscle as contractions.
• Here latency place a role, which takes time for amuscle to respond upon stimulus. That is why , there is difference in the contarctile force generated by each muscle.