How DO muscles contract


How DO muscles contract??

By: Cherelle Hurley

 

 

Muscle contraction by definition is the shortening of a muscle, in the muscular system besides shortening its creating tension.  Contraction is done by a process called "Sliding Filament Theroy," there are many things that occur within the muscle involved in the contraction.  To begin we need to define a few critical words that are most important within the contraction.

 

Sarcomere: functional unit of myrofibrial

Actin: Protein within thin filament

Myosin: Protein within thick filament

ATP: Converted to ADP, creates calcium pump
Action Potential: Change in electrical charge (impulse)

Cross Bridges: Connection between myosin molecule and actin filament

I-bands: Isotrophic, light colored, thin filaments (action only)

A-bands: Anisotrophic, darker colored, thick filaments (myosin only)

Sarcoplamic reticulum (SR): Similar to ER, resoponsible for storing and release calcium ions

 

So......... How DO muscles contract??

The answer is the "Sliding Filament Theroy," which is essentially the process of how a muscle contracts.  It is the shortening of the sarcomere (fuctional unit of a muscle)

 

(1st) Nerve impulse, action potential (from CNS) sent across the sarcomere

(2nd) Resulting from the impulse, Acetyclhoine - cause the SR releases Ca ++

(3rd) High concentration of Ca++ in the cytoplasm allows myosin (thick/A-band) head to attach to ATP, being energized and charged  it binds to actin (thin/I-band)

(4th) This force (power stroke) give it the ability for the thin and thick filaments to slide across one another (Creating a cross bridge)

^^ this makes the muscle contract and shortening of sarcomere ^^

 

 

Image reference: http://www.clt.astate.edu/mhuss/Chapter%209%20-%20Muscular%20System_files/slide0011_image031.jpg

                                   http://www.bing.com/images/searchq=sliding+filament&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=6E8185E3184C9E09A4A99B90571E31BBF62E7253&selectedIndex=54

 

Written reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/sliding-filament-theory

                           http://slidingfilament.webnode.com/sliding-filament-theory/

                           http://suite101.com/a/how-does-muscle-contract-a86853