Table 1.

Descriptive characteristics of the tension response to stretch: tensions are given as increments above P₀ and as mean (±S.E.M., n = 6)

	P1 (per L0 s−1)	PL	Vc	P3 (measured)	P3* (calculated)
Absolute	3.88 ± 0.97 kN m−2	80.8 ± 13.1 kN m−2	2.31 ± 0.775 L0 s−1	9.72 ± 2.18 kN m−2	50.0 ± 8.98 kN m−2
As a ratio of P0	0.032 ± 0.008	0.602 ± 0.032	—	0.084 ± 0.008	0.365 ± 0.031

P_L (plateau tension), V_c (critical velocity) and P₃

^*were obtained from curve fitting, P₁ and P₃ were measured directly from the tension records.