A latent period (no tension production) is observed when a muscle fiber is stimulated because
• the fiber initially stretches before it contracts.
• the myosin heads must first be re-energized before they can make cross bridges.
• titin resists compression until the muscle fiber starts to warm up.
• the myosin heads pull very weakly at first when the fiber has not been working.
• there are multiple steps that must occur in order to get the binding sites on actin exposed so that power strokes can be produced.