The different fiber types show clear differences in contraction speed, the force developed in a maximal static action is independent of the fiber type, but related to the cross-sectional area. Since type I (slow) fibers tend to have smaller area than type II (fast) fibers, a high percentage of type I fibers is believed to be associated with a smaller muscle area. The two most reliable and reproducible indices of the functional capacities of skeletal muscle are its maximum force potential and its maximum rate of shortening determined under maximal stimulation conditions. The architectural design of the skeletal muscle has a significant impact on these functional properties. For example, imagine two muscles having similar masses and biochemical profiles. Under maximal stimulation conditions and under identical biomechanical constraints, the relative proportion of half sarcomeres arranged either in series or in parallel will dictate the relative priority of force and displacement in each muscle.