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ALL-OR-NONE PRINCIPLE
A nerve fibre connects to a muscle fibre by one or more points called the motor end plates. It is at
the motor end plate that a nerve impulse stimulates a muscle fibre. The motor units function on the
“all-or-none principle” when stimulated, i.e., the minimal stimulus which causes contraction causes a
complete contraction, a stronger stimulus will not cause a greater contraction. However, the entire
muscle does not obey this law, because the extent of its contraction depends upon the number of its
motor units which are contracting at any particular time. A few motor units in action cause a feeble
contraction, many units in operation produce a stronger contraction. Thus, a gross muscle may show
many grades of contraction, depending upon the amount of stimulation. It is a common observation
that less exertion is needed to lift a sheet of paper than a book.
The ability of the nervous system to progressively increase the strength of contraction by
activating more and more of the motor neurons controlling the muscle is called recruiting of motor
neurons.
THRESHOLD STIMULUS
A specific minimum strength of the nerve impulse or some artificial stimulus required for exciting a
muscle fibre to contract is called threshold stimulus of that muscle fibre. A nerve impulse or other
stimulus below the threshold intensity of a muscle fibre fails to bring about its contraction. The
threshold stimulus varies from fibre to fibre even in the same muscle.