When a muscle is unable to respond to stimuli temporarily, it is in which of the following periods?

When a muscle is unable to respond to stimuli temporarily, it is in which of the following periods?

A) relaxation period

B) refractory period

C) latent period

D) fatigue period

Answer: B) refractory period

Fatigue is the temporary state in which the muscle may be incapable of responding to stimulus after a contraction cycle which is known as the refractory period. At this period, it is at rest, in the process of recovering from the effort applied towards the contraction it has just gone through. Besides the switching on of the ions in the skeletal muscle membrane, it becomes a physiological imperative to control the excitability of the muscle as well as allow it to rest and relax from the contractions. Reflex is defined as a pause in the cycle in which no stimuli are introduced into the formation of the cycle’s process to allow the muscle sufficient time to relax for the subsequent contraction. This mechanism is of great importance as it helps in the contraction of muscles and the protection and/or prevention of injury to the muscles.