3. Describe the important steps in muscle contraction.
The process of muscle contraction includes the following events
1. Depolarisation of Sarcolemma- In this event, a signal is sent by the central nervous system through a motor neuron and it reaches the neuromuscular junction or motor end plate. The neuromuscular junction refers to the junction between a motor neuron and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre. The receiving of the signal by neuromuscular junction causes the acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter to release and set the action potential in the sarcolemma.
2. Release of Calcium Ions- This step includes the transmission of the action potential by sarcolemma to the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release calcium ions in the sarcoplasm.
3. Conformational Changes in Actin Filaments- The calcium ions thus released bind to the troponin and tropomyosin on active filaments changing the three-dimensional shape of the actin–troponin-tropomyosin complex. This causes the active site for myosin which is found on the actin filament to be exposed.
4. Activation of Myosin Heads- Later on, the myosin heads also get activated and they release energy by the hydrolysis of ATP resulting in the binding of myosin heads to the active sites present on the actin filaments. This leads to the formation of actin-myosin cross-bridge.
5. Sliding of Actin Filaments over Myosin- After the formation of cross-bridges, the myosin head rotates to pull the actin filament towards the centre of the A-band, i.e. the H-zone. The Z-line attached to the actin filaments is also pulled inwards resulting in the contraction of the sarcomere. During contraction, the I-band shortens, while the A-band retains its length. This causes the muscles to contract.