## 4 Discussion  
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VL muscle architecture and force-time characteristics of ILP and CMJ, in female athletes. To the author's knowledge, evidence is limited on the association between muscle architecture and force-time characteristics during isometric and dynamic conditions, in female athletes. The main findings of this study were that ILP-PF and CMJ power significantly correlated, and both variables also showed strong correlations with VL muscle thickness and fascicle length. In addition, ILP-PF and muscle thickness were important predictors of CMJ power. Significant correlations were also observed between fascicle length with ILP-RFD epochs and between jumping height and muscle thickness. Furthermore, positive correlations were found between ILP and CMJ for ARFD and RFD, despite the different types of muscle actions included in these movements. The result of this study indicated strong correlations between ILP-PF and CMJ power. [PERSON] et al. (2008) [40] also reported that the absolute ILP-PF during isometric squat significantly correlated with CMJ peak power and [PERSON] et al. (2006) [18] found that PF in isometric mid-high pull significantly correlated with CMJ power, in male athletes. Although, evidence on the association between isometric PF and force-time characteristics achieved during jumping tasks is controversial [41], the results of this study highlighted that the female athletes with greater maximal lower limb strength, as evaluated with ILP, were capable of generating higher levels of power during a jumping test. Interestingly, ILP-PF and CMJ power were both associated with VL muscle thickness, and fascicle length. Larger thickness of the VL muscle may indicate greater hypertrophy [42] of the knee extensors and allows for a greater production of force [28]. [PERSON] et al. (2015) [43] and [PERSON] et al. (2015) [44] also reported a positive correlation between VL thickness and maximal isometric force in mid-high pull, in male athletes. Furthermore, an association between VL muscle thickness and CMJ power was observed in elite weightlifters [45] and similar results were reported from [PERSON] et al. (2014) [46] and [PERSON] et al. (2009) in male and female participants [47]. Longer fascicles in VL may reflect a greater number of in series sarcomeres, and indicate a higher peak shortening velocity [23]. The significant correlations between VL fascicle length and ILP-PF found in this study are in line with [PERSON] et al. (2017) [48] who also observed correlations between VL fascicle length and PF during mid-shin pull. VL fascicle length was also positively correlated with CMJ power in female athletes. [PERSON] et al. (2016) reported that type II fiber percentage and fascicular length were the most significant determinants of power performance in experienced power-trained young men [49] and [PERSON] et al. (2020) [45] and [PERSON] et al. (2014) [46] also found significant correlations between fascicle lengths and CMJ power in male and female athletes, respectively. Collectively, ILP-PF and CMJ power were positively associated with VL muscle thickness and fascicle length, thus highlighting the importance of muscle hypertrophy (in series and parallel) for force and power generation. Thus, it appears, that the significant correlation between ILP-PF and jumping power may be moderated by VL muscle thickness and fas