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In short, the basic contraction unit of the muscle is the sarcomere. Many sarcomeres work serially and in parallel to acheive the full contraction ability of the muscle. The sarcomere is made up of many filaments of Actin and Myosin, two types of protein based filaments that reach out towards each other from opposing sides of the sarcomere. When the muscle is at rest, the Actin and myosin filaments overlap each other the least. In order for the muscle to contract, the filaments from the opposing sides slide over each other thus pulling both walls of the sarcomere towards each other, with them. When the muscle is fully contacted, the filaments overlap each other the most. The sliding motion is activated by calcium that floods the sarcomeres (at the end of a process that is triggered by a command from a motor nerve). The calcium reveals sites on the Actin filaments at which molecular 'whips' extending from the Myosin filaments, can throw themselves, attach, pull, and leave, using the muscle's energy reserves in the process. Each molecular whip works at its own time (much like cylinders in an internal combustion engine), so that in any given time, contact between the filaments is being made by some of the whips.

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What myofilament does the pulling?

The myosin myofilament pulls on the actin myofilament during muscle contraction. This interaction, known as the sliding filament theory, results in the shortening of the sarcomere and muscle contraction.


Physical evidence that supports the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction includes?

decreased width of the H band during contraction


What is the model that best describes the contraction of the muscle called?

The sliding filament theory is the model that best describes muscle contraction. It explains how actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, resulting in muscle fiber shortening and contraction. This theory is widely accepted in the field of muscle physiology.


What filament is responsible for the pulling and what filament is pulled in the sliding filament theory?

In the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction, the thin filament (actin) slides over the thick filament (myosin). Myosin is responsible for pulling the actin filaments towards the center of the sarcomere during muscle contraction.


In isometric contraction how does the muscle stay the same length when the sarcomeres are shortening according to the sliding filament theory?

Dear freind! there is not any filamnet sliding in isometric contraction and so there is no work...


What is the term that refers to the theory of rapidly lengthening a muscle followed by an immediate concentric contraction?

This is known as plyometric stretching, a form of dynamic stretching that combines rapid lengthening of a muscle with an immediate concentric contraction to improve power and explosiveness in movements.


What enzymes do myosin heads have?

Myosin heads contain ATPase enzymes, which hydrolyze ATP to provide energy for muscle contraction. This energy is used to power the movement of myosin heads along actin filaments during the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction.


Who proposed the sliding filament theory?

it was a collaboration between Jean Hanson and Hugh Huxley


What are the natural tensions found in the fiber of muscles?

In the fiber of muscles, natural tensions are caused by the overlapping arrangement of actin and myosin filaments, which create the striations seen in muscle tissue. These tensions are necessary for muscle contraction and are generated when myosin heads interact with actin filaments during the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction. Additionally, titin, a protein in muscle fibers, also contributes to the passive tension that helps muscles maintain their shape and elasticity.


What is Huxley's Sliding Filament Theory?

The sliding filament theory is the explanation for how muscles produce force (or, usually, shorten). It explains that the thick and thin filaments within the sarcomere slide past one another, shortening the entire length of the sarcomere. In order to slide past one another, the myosin heads will interact with the actin filaments and, using ATP, bend to pull past the actin.


Contraction mechanism in skeletal muscle cell?

The mechanism by which skeletal muscle tissue obtains ATP to fuel contractions is the sliding - filament hypothesis. Two filaments, actin and myosin, slide over one another during contraction.


Which proteins form light and dark bands?

In striated muscle fibers, light bands (I bands) are formed by the protein actin, while dark bands (A bands) are formed by the protein myosin. These proteins play a crucial role in the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction.