What is the length-tension relationship in skeletal muscle?

• A. There is no relation between sarcomere length and force.
• B. Longer sarcomeres always generate more force.
• C. There is an optimal sarcomere length at which actin-myosin overlap yields maximal active tension; too short or too stretched reduces force.
• D. Maximum force occurs at the shortest possible sarcomere length.

Answer: (C)