Guyton chapter 8 | Latch mechanism | stress relaxation | Reverse stress relaxation | Lec 45

#Latchmechanism and #stressrelaxation.
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Latch mechanism is  the decrease in amount of energy and excitation needed for the initial contraction of smooth muscles. When smooth muscle contract intially alot of excitaion in the form of nervous stimulation or haromonal stimulation is needed, but, once the muscle has contracted, then it remains contracted with little use of energy and little excitaion. The purpose of this process is to conserve energy used by smooth muscles.

Stress relaxation is the decrease in force of contraction, that occurs after after increase or decrease in length of the smooth muscle. For example the urinary bladder is made of smooth muscles, when the volume of bladder increase due to urine the force of contraction of smooth muscles also increase initially, but, after some time, the length of muscles remains the same, but the force of contraction in muscles decreases.