Describe the important steps in muscle c | Class 11 Biology Chapter Locomotion and Movement, Locomotion and Movement NCERT Solutions

Q3.

Describe the important steps in muscle contraction.

During skeletal muscle contraction, the thick filament slides over the thin filament by a repeated binding and releases of myosin head along the filament. This whole process occurs in a sequential manner.

Step 1:

Muscle contraction is initiated by signals that travel along the axon and reach the neuromuscular junction or motor end plate. Neuromuscular junction is a junction between a neuron and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre. As a result, Acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) is released into the synaptic cleft by generating an action potential in sarcolemma.

Step 2:

The generation of this action potential releases calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the sarcoplasm.

Step 3:

The increased calcium ions in the sarcoplasm leads to the activation of actin sites. Calcium ions bind to the troponin on actin filaments and remove the tropomyosin, wrapped around actin filaments. Hence, active actin sites are exposed and this allows myosin heads to attach to this site.

Step 4:

In this stage, the myosin head attaches to the exposed site of actin and forms cross bridges by utilizing energy from ATP hydrolysis. The actin filaments are pulled. As a result, the H-zone reduces. It is at this stage that the contraction of the muscle occurs.

Step 5:

After muscle contraction, the myosin head pulls the actin filament and releases ADP along with inorganic phosphate. ATP molecules bind and detach myosin and the cross bridges are broken.

Step 6:

This process of formation and breaking down of cross bridges continues until there is a drop in the stimulus.As a result, the concentration of calcium ions decreases, thereby masking the actin filaments and leading to muscle relaxation.

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Important Questions & Answers

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This question is important because it tests key concepts from the NCERT syllabus and is frequently asked in CBSE exams.

Which NCERT concept is used in this question?

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Students often lose marks by skipping steps, writing incomplete explanations, or misunderstanding keywords used in the question.

What is the correct answer to: Describe the important steps in muscle contraction.?

During skeletal muscle contraction, the thick filament slides over the thin filament by a repeated binding and releases of myosin head along the filament. This whole process occurs in a sequential manner.

Step 1:

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How do you solve Describe the important steps in muscle contraction. step by step?

Step-by-step explanation:
• During skeletal muscle contraction, the thick filament slides over the thin filament by a repeated binding and releases of myosin head along the filament
• This whole process occurs in a sequential manner
•
•
• Step 1:

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Student Discussion

mahathi
Class · · , · Jan 20, 2016
its easy to understand
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