Muscle Contraction Research Paper
Viany Reyes November 08, 2011
Dr. Dunaway
Neuronal signaling in muscle contraction is triggered when an action potential reaches the neuromuscular junction. At this junction, acetylcholine (ACh) is the main neurotransmitter. Packaged in vesicles, ACh fuses with the neuron’s membrane and is released into the synaptic cleft. ACh diffuses toward the motor end plate and bind to the neurotransmitter receptor on it. The muscle fiber is then triggered to produce an action potential of its own that spreads through the muscle’s T-tubules. The sarcoplasmic reticulum in the muscle releases Ca+ into the cytosol through various ion channels. After the sarcoplasmic reticulum has released Ca+, the Ca+ binds to molecules of troponin. This binding
Dr. Dunaway
Neuronal signaling in muscle contraction is triggered when an action potential reaches the neuromuscular junction. At this junction, acetylcholine (ACh) is the main neurotransmitter. Packaged in vesicles, ACh fuses with the neuron’s membrane and is released into the synaptic cleft. ACh diffuses toward the motor end plate and bind to the neurotransmitter receptor on it. The muscle fiber is then triggered to produce an action potential of its own that spreads through the muscle’s T-tubules. The sarcoplasmic reticulum in the muscle releases Ca+ into the cytosol through various ion channels. After the sarcoplasmic reticulum has released Ca+, the Ca+ binds to molecules of troponin. This binding