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Fig. 10 | BMC Biomedical Engineering

Fig. 10

From: The problem with skeletal muscle series elasticity

Fig. 10

Aponeurosis mechanics. Aponeurosis load as a function of aponeurosis strain for active and passive conditions in frog semitendinosus muscles. The observation made here that aponeurosis strains were significantly smaller for the active compared to the passive muscle is inherently correct and agrees with the theoretical considerations made above and experimental observation made by others [24, 46]. However, this graph (reproduced in its original form) must be considered and interpreted with caution, because the variable on the vertical axis is not, as indicated, the aponeurosis load, but it is the load on the tendon. Since tendon loads and aponeurosis loads are not related in a simple or unique manner, and differ substantially between corresponding (same tendon force) active and passive conditions, the figure, as depicted by Lieber et al. [45] has led to misinterpretations of the aponeurosis mechanics that were at play in this experiment [Reprinted with permission from Karger, Cells Tissues Organs, Lieber et al. 2000 [45]]

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