The mechanical properties of oesophageal striated muscle in the cat and sheep.

1. A study has been made of the mechanical behaviour of isolated strips of cat and sheep oesophageal muscle. 2. At 37 degrees C, time to peak tension in an isometric twitch was about 80 ms in both muscles. Tetanic fusion frequency was 30 s-minus 1, twitch: tetanus ratio 0.4-0.47, and maximum velocity of shortening was 3 lengths. s-minus1. 3. The results are compared with the prperties of other muscles.