34 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLE AND NERVE. 



show, however, that the process of contraction spreads over the 

 fibers, from the point stimulated, in the form of a wave that moves 

 with a definite velocity. In a long muscle with parallel fibers one 

 may prove, by proper recording apparatus, that if the muscle is 

 stimulated at one end a point near this end enters into contraction 

 before a point farther off. Knowing the difference in time between 

 the appearance of the contraction at the two points and their 

 distance apart, we have the data for determining the velocity of its 

 propagation. In frog's muscles this velocity is found to be equal 

 to 3 to 4 meters per second, while in human muscle, at the body 

 temperature, it is estimated at 10 to 13 meters per second. Know- 

 ing the time it takes this wave to pass a given point (d) and its 

 velocity (v), its entire length is given by the formula 1 = vd. In the 

 frog's muscle, therefore, with a velocity of 3000 mm. per second, 

 and a duration of, say, 0.1 second, the product 3000 X0.1 = 300 

 mms. gives the length of the wave or the length of muscle which 

 is in some phase of contraction at any given instant. Under 

 normal conditions the muscle fibers are stimulated through their 

 motor plates, which are situated toward the middle of the fiber, 

 or perhaps one muscle fiber may have two or more motor plates, 

 giving two or more points of stimulation. It follows, therefore, 

 from this anatomical arrangement and the great velocity of the 

 wave, that all parts of the fibers are in contraction at the same 

 instant and, indeed, in nearly the same phase of contraction. Under 

 abnormal conditions muscles may exhibit fibrillar contractions ; that 

 is, separate fibrils or bundles of fibrils contract and relax at different 

 times, giving a flickering, trembling movement to the muscle. 



Idiomuscular Contractions. In a fatigued or moribund muscle mechan- 

 ical stimulation may give a localized contraction which does not spread or 

 spreads very slowly, showing that the abnormal changes in the muscle prevent 

 the excitation from traveling at its normal velocity. A localized contraction 

 of this kind was designated by Schiff as an idiomuscular contraction. It may 

 be produced in a healthy muscle by localized mechanical stimulation, as by 

 drawing a blunt instrument e. g., the handle of a scalpel across the belly 

 of a muscle. The point thus stimulated stands out as a weal, owing to the 

 idiomuscular contraction. 



The Energy Liberated in the Contraction. When a muscle 

 contracts, energy is, as we say, liberated in several forms, and 

 can be measured quantitatively. First there is a production of 

 heat, which is indicated by a rise in temperature of the muscle. 

 According to Heidenhain, the temperature of the frog's muscle 

 is increased in a single contraction by 0.001 C. to 0.005 C. Larger 

 muscles, such as those of the thigh of the dog, when repeatedly 

 stimulated may cause a rise of temperature of from 1 to 2 C. 

 The thermometer does not, of course, measure the amount of heat 

 produced, but only the temperature of the muscle. Heat is esti- 



