What is increased muscle contractions called? A. Fatigue B. Tetanus C. Muscle twitch D. Summation

Step 1: Break Down the Problem

We need to determine the term that refers to increased muscle contractions from the provided options.

Step 2: Relevant Concepts

• Fatigue: This refers to a decrease in muscle performance and is not associated with increased contractions.
• Tetanus: This is a state of sustained muscle contraction that occurs when stimuli are provided at a rate that does not allow the muscle to relax completely.
• Muscle twitch: This denotes a single quick contraction and relaxation of a muscle fiber.
• Summation: This refers to the process where multiple stimuli lead to a stronger contraction because the muscle does not fully relax between stimuli.

Step 3: Analysis and Detail

• Fatigue is not the correct answer since it relates to decreased performance.
• Muscle twitch defines a short, single contraction, which is not indicative of increased contractions.
• Summation involves a series of muscle contractions but not in a sustained manner.
• Tetanus results from high-frequency stimulation causing muscle fibers to contract continuously.

Step 4: Verify and Summarize

After analyzing each option's definition and relation to muscle contractions, tetanus aligns with the notion of increased muscle contraction as it represents a sustained contraction state due to rapid stimuli.

Final Answer

B. Tetanus