Muscle Fatigue
For human beings, one of the most important evolutionary adaptations that have allowed us to reach the point we are now would be the structure and function of the prehensile hand. There are a few other animals, mostly other primates, who have hands with a similar structure to that of a human and who do make some use of tools as well, but not quite to the extent that humans are able to (3). Comparative research on the hand of several species with those of the human hand have not been able to pin down any particular morphological feature that would explain the difference in abilities between humans and other primates (3). Whatever the case may be, it has nevertheless served an important role in the advancement of human capabilities, allowing
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Muscle fatigue occurs when a muscle has a diminished ability to continue to produce force, usually occurring due to extensive use of those muscles, such as when performing extraneous activity. On a molecular level, there are a number of things that happen that prevent the muscle from performing more action, ultimately to prevent any damage from being afflicted on the muscles cells. One particular effect that most people are likely familiar with is the production of a compound known as lactic acid, a compound that is derived from pyruvate that, under normal conditions, would be completely oxidized within the mitochondria of the muscle cells, which becomes lactate and becomes associated with a hydrogen ion, resulting in lactic acid (1). At one point it was believed that the production of lactic acid was a result in a lack of oxygen in the cells, but previously experiments have proved otherwise and it has been suggested that it may in fact provide some benefit during extensive muscle use (2). In addition, it has been found that fatigue in hand muscles does have some impact on gripping ability, although the previous research performed it with a three-digit grasp (5). Based on these previous findings, we believed that the subject’s maximum clench strength and the total length of
Muscle fatigue occurs when a muscle has a diminished ability to continue to produce force, usually occurring due to extensive use of those muscles, such as when performing extraneous activity. On a molecular level, there are a number of things that happen that prevent the muscle from performing more action, ultimately to prevent any damage from being afflicted on the muscles cells. One particular effect that most people are likely familiar with is the production of a compound known as lactic acid, a compound that is derived from pyruvate that, under normal conditions, would be completely oxidized within the mitochondria of the muscle cells, which becomes lactate and becomes associated with a hydrogen ion, resulting in lactic acid (1). At one point it was believed that the production of lactic acid was a result in a lack of oxygen in the cells, but previously experiments have proved otherwise and it has been suggested that it may in fact provide some benefit during extensive muscle use (2). In addition, it has been found that fatigue in hand muscles does have some impact on gripping ability, although the previous research performed it with a three-digit grasp (5). Based on these previous findings, we believed that the subject’s maximum clench strength and the total length of