Sliding Filament

Front

What is the very first thing that needs to occur for a muscle contraction?

Back

Action Potential by a nerve cell.

Front

What do we call the simplest part of a muscle that is made up of tiny, parallel threads?

Back

Myofibril.

Front

Name the type of muscle tissue that is involuntary and found in the walls of internal organs.

Back

Smooth muscle.

Front

What is the structural unit of a muscle called?

Back

Sarcomere.

Front

What are the large, string-like bundles formed by muscle fibers called?

Back

Fascicles.

Front

What is the role of calcium in muscle contraction?

Back

Calcium ions bind to troponin, causing a conformational change that allows myosin to bind to actin.

Front

What is the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells?

Back

It stores and releases calcium ions during muscle contraction.

Front

What are the two main proteins involved in muscle contraction?

Back

Actin and myosin.

Front

What is the sliding filament theory?

Back

It explains how muscles contract by the sliding of actin and myosin filaments over each other.

Front

What is the role of ATP in muscle contraction?

Back

ATP provides the energy required for myosin to pull actin filaments during contraction.