Question

- Using the above diagram explain the difference between muscle twitch and tetanus from the near-muscular physiology view point

Action Potentials: 0 mv | A. 11 PULL 02. WOW! -90 mV Contraction: twitch summation rough tetanus smooth tetanus Basic Physiology.com Using the above diagram explain the difference between muscle twitch and tetanus from the neuro-muscular physiology view point.

Answer 1

The muscles contract when they get a signal from the neruons that innervate them. Normally for voluntary muscles this process is under control.

A muscle twitch is an involuntary contraction of a voluntary muscle obatined by an action potential generated by the brain and travels along the motor neuron. It's is called a twitch when only one action potential is generated.

Tetany is a condition in which their is increase in the frequency of action potential either from the neuron or at the muscle. Hence tetany is a condition of prolonged contraction of muscle with intermediate relaxation.

So basically as shown in the image the twitch is only one action potential and tetany is more than one action potential.