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Intrinsic Properties of Motoneurons

Implications for Muscle Fatigue

  • Chapter
Fatigue

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 384))

Abstract

The following is a brief review of the intrinsic properties of motoneurons that contribute to their recruitment and rate modulation. Our emphasis is on properties that may either accelerate or delay the onset of muscular fatigue. In general, intrinsic motoneuron properties are regulated in a way that minimizes energy expenditure. The correlation of recruitment threshold with motoneuron type ensures that the most fatigable motor units are reserved for the most forceful contractions. The variation in minimum firing rates arising from variations in AHP characteristics ensures that motoneurons begin to fire at rates that are matched to the force producing characteristics of their muscle units. Further, it is possible that spike-frequency adaptation contributes to optimization of the tension (force)-firing frequency (T-f) transform of individual motor units.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    A. Sawczuk

  2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    R. K. Powers & M. D. Binder

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  1. A. Sawczuk
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  2. R. K. Powers
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  3. M. D. Binder
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Simon C. Gandevia

  2. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Roger M. Enoka

  3. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Alan J. McComas

  4. The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Douglas G. Stuart  & Patricia A. Pierce  & 

  5. University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA

    Christine K. Thomas

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Sawczuk, A., Powers, R.K., Binder, M.D. (1995). Intrinsic Properties of Motoneurons. In: Gandevia, S.C., Enoka, R.M., McComas, A.J., Stuart, D.G., Thomas, C.K., Pierce, P.A. (eds) Fatigue. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 384. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_10

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