Playing the piano requires activation of muscles of the upper limbs, neck and ba
ID: 3481234 • Letter: P
Question
Playing the piano requires activation of muscles of the upper limbs, neck and back. To play the keys, the fingers must generate rapid, small movements that vary in force generation to play the keys sometimes very hard (larger amounts of force) and sometimes very soft (very little amounts of force), and everything in between. The elbow flexors hold the elbow joint at the same comfortable angle throughout the duration of play, which can last several hours. Additionally, the player must also sit upright at the piano bench for these long durations without the back or neck muscles fatiguing. For piano playing, what is happening in the back muscles throughout the duration of play O Some sarcomeres are active while other sarcomeres in the same cell are resting O Some myofibers are activated to complete tetanus while others are resting O Some motor units are receiving medium frequency stimuli while others are resting O All motor neurons are sending very high frequency stimuli to their myofibersExplanation / Answer
The fourth option is the correct answer. Playing piano requires quick functions of fingers; this requires frequent stimuli for activating muscles. Therefore, motor neurons receive signals quickly. However, forces applied by muscles vary according the need. Therefore, 4th option is correct.