What causes a muscle's maximal response? Describe the condition of muscle contraction called "simple twitch." Can a muscle produce a stronger response than its maximal response under the conditions of simple twitch?
When a stimulus level is reached that causes all a muscle's fibers to contract, a condition called maximal response is achieved. The condition of muscle contraction called a simple twitch has three phases: 1) the latent period, the lag time of less than 0.004 seconds between the commencement of stimulation and the commencement of contraction, 2) the contraction period, and 3) the relaxation period. Under the condition of simple twitch, where the muscle has time to relax completely before being stimulated again, a stimulus greater than the level that elicits the muscle's maximal response will not elicit a stronger response from the muscle.
