pennate is the opposite of parallel (fusiform) parallel muscle eg biceps brachii has fibres which run parallel, whereas pennate fibres run diagonally to the axis of movement, unipennate, bipennate and multipennate refers to the number of tendonous attachments unipennate muscle fibers which converge on one side of a tendon ca be found in the gluteus maximus, bipennate fibers converge in a featherlike way towards a central tendon, and multipennate converge on more tendons such as deltoid which has three heads.
This type of muscle arrangement is called pennate. Pennate muscles maximize the number of muscle fibers in a given space, allowing for greater force production. Examples of pennate muscles include the deltoid and gastrocnemius.
Pennate MusclesIn a pennate muscle, the fascicles form a common angle with the tendon. Because the muscle cells pull at an angle, contracting pennate muscles do not move their tendons as far as parallel muscles do. But a pennate muscle contains more muscle fibers--and, as a result, produces more tension--than does a parallel muscle of the same size. (Tension production is proportional to the number of contracting sarcomeres; the more muscle fibers, the more myofibrils and sarcomeres.)
Strap
parallel
parallel
The fascicles are short and attach obliquely to a central tendon that runs the length of a muscle.
Unipennate is not a muscle but a pennate is a muscle. This muscle is located throughout the human body that allows high force production but little motion.
Some examples of pennate muscles in the human body include the deltoid muscle in the shoulder, the rectus femoris muscle in the thigh, and the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle in the forearm. These muscles have fibers that run obliquely to the tendon, which allows for greater force generation.
The Pennate arrangement. The fascicles attach obliquely to the tendon.
short fibers, arranged obliquely to their tendons
In non pennate or fusiform structure, fibers run in line with the line of pull. There is a longer fiber length associated with a fusiform structure, but often not a very thick cross-section -Weaker overall, but greater ROM (range of movement) making it good for speed In a pennate or penniform muscle structure, there is an oblique fiber pattern. Fibers do not pull in the same direction as the line of muscle pull. There is a shorter fiber length but usually a thicker cross sectional area. -There are three pennate types 1) Unipennate: One-sided feather such as in the semimembranous 2) Bipennate: Two-sided feather such as in the gastrocnemius 3) Multipennate: many-headed two sided feather such as in the deltoids -Good for strength, smaller ROM, meaning it is not as great for speed
The primary muscle intended for exercise.