LASER DIFFRACTION STUDIES ON SINGLE SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS

Sarcomere movements during isometric tetanic contractions were resolved to 50 angstroms by diffraction techniques. After a latent period that followed the first stimulus, all sarcomeres shortened simultaneously and uniformly. Oscillations in length and tension in synchrony with the stimuli occurred during an incomplete tetanus. However, no oscillations in length were detected during the plateau of a fused tetanus.