A twitch is defined as a single, brief contraction period and then relaxation period of a skeletal muscle in response to a single stimulation. Contraction period involves receptive power strokes that pull the thin filaments past the thick filaments shortening sacromeres and muscle tension increases as the sacromeres shorten. Relaxation period begins with or release of cross bridges resulting from the return of Ca2+ back to sarcoplasmic reticulum. The strength of skeletal muscle contractions can be broadly separated into twitch, summation, and tetanus. A twitch is a single contraction and relaxation cycle produced by an action potential within the muscle fiber itself.
