Fig. 7. (A) Length–tension curves for the depressor mandibulae muscle (N=3). At resting length (arrow), the muscle is at its optimum length (L₀), and a small amount of passive tension (0.1 N) is present. Below resting length, active and passive tension decline rapidly. Colors represent different individuals (lines are best least-squares fit to third-order polynomials). Black dotted line represents mean for all individuals combined. (B) Force–velocity curves for the depressor mandibulae muscle (N=3). For the three individuals, V_max was 3.74, 3.62, and 3.48 ML s^–1. P=observed force, P₀=maximum isometric force, V=observed velocity, V_max=maximum shortening velocity. Colors represent different individuals (lines are best least-squares fit to Eqn 7). Black dotted line represents mean for all individuals combined.