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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 05:12:06

Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 05:12:06
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fexercising%2F12.gif&hash=f7b9f23ba2948fa5ba7b022151a99285) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fexercising%2F6.gif&hash=2a339373e2c8e21c83fca4d9fb9f47ab)
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 05:39:35
I tried but it didn't seem to work...
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 17/12/2010 06:40:20
I heard that if you are tasered, all your voluntary muscles clench and unclench. I don't think you would want to try this though.
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 08:00:43

I heard that if you are tasered, all your voluntary muscles clench and unclench. I don't think you would want to try this though.
Ah, interesting, thanks for that Bill.D.Katt. As a firm believer in empirical study, I'll just go outside into the rain and... (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fzapped%2F4.gif&hash=15f79caa8fb74078289eccb9e4f0c4a7)
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 08:06:27
How about during rigor mortis? All of the muscles stiffen?
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: SteveFish on 17/12/2010 16:56:37
If you mean contract all your voluntary (skeletal) muscles voluntarily, the answer is no. Even an anatomist, that could identify every skeletal muscle in the body, wouldn't be able to contract them all, even one at a time.

Further, during normal muscle contraction all of the muscle fibers in a single muscle do not contract all at once (NOTE- skeletal muscle cells are often called fibers because of their unusual appearance). When you make a controlled movement, such as pick up a delicate and light weight object, you don't crush it and fling it up because only a few muscle fibers in the appropriate muscles were contracted. When you hold a heavy weight up for an extended period, a larger portion of muscle fibers are used, but never all because the fibers tire quickly and they have to, sort of, take turns.
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/12/2010 22:08:57
If you mean contract all your voluntary (skeletal) muscles voluntarily, the answer is no. Even an anatomist, that could identify every skeletal muscle in the body, wouldn't be able to contract them all, even one at a time.

Further, during normal muscle contraction all of the muscle fibers in a single muscle do not contract all at once (NOTE- skeletal muscle cells are often called fibers because of their unusual appearance). When you make a controlled movement, such as pick up a delicate and light weight object, you don't crush it and fling it up because only a few muscle fibers in the appropriate muscles were contracted. When you hold a heavy weight up for an extended period, a larger portion of muscle fibers are used, but never all because the fibers tire quickly and they have to, sort of, take turns.
Thanks SteveFish [:)] great answer
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Variola on 17/12/2010 23:14:11
I tried but it didn't seem to work...

In my experience it is not possible for a man to clench his butt cheeks together to hold in a fart, let alone tense everything up all at once.  [:P]
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: SteveFish on 17/12/2010 23:29:25
Variola, regarding your specific example, I think this may be a difference between men and women. Steve
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 18/12/2010 10:48:27
I tried but it didn't seem to work...

In my experience it is not possible for a man to clench his butt cheeks together to hold in a fart, let alone tense everything up all at once.  [:P]
Whot? I am perfectly able to clench my... (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Frude%2F9.gif&hash=1038824793d93f7358d50a75348b902c)
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: CliffordK on 19/12/2010 09:50:16
You have flexors and extensors in all or most muscle groups.

It is very difficult to both flex and extend an joint at the same time..  although you can have some amount of rigidity. 

With that in mind, you could probably do about half of your muscles.  Arms, legs, stomach, etc. 

In a seizure, you might have significant contractions of muscles, but perhaps not uniformly.
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: Variola on 19/12/2010 15:23:17
Variola, regarding your specific example, I think this may be a difference between men and women. Steve

You mean in the same way men cannot ask for directions or replace the loo roll on the holder?  [;)]



Whot? I am perfectly able to clench my... (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Frude%2F9.gif&hash=1038824793d93f7358d50a75348b902c)

Does that mean you are not a man?? Or a man in touch with his feminine side??  [:D]
Title: Is it possible to tense all of your voluntary muscles at the same time?
Post by: SteveFish on 19/12/2010 15:53:10
Variola, actually I think your examples have to do with intelligence, not gender. Steve