Question

A cheetah, on seeing a prey, moves towards him at a very high speed. What causes the movement of his muscles? How does the chemistry of cellular components of muscles change during this event?

Accepted Answer

The movement of the muscle is regulated by the contraction and relaxation in the body of an organism. The muscular function represents the movement, contraction and relaxation process in the body of an organism. The hydrolysis of ATP molecules plays an essential role in the muscular function. During this function, the chemical energy derived from the hydrolysis process gets converted into mechanical energy and leads to the contraction process. This energy regulates the movement of the muscle.

Muscle contraction is initiated by a signal sent by the central nervous system (CNS) via a motor neuron. A motor neuron along with the muscle fibres connected to it constitute a motor unit. The junction between a motor neuron and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre is called the neuromuscular junction or motor end plate. As the signal reaches this junction, it releases a neurotransmitter (Acetylcholine) which generates an action potential in the sarcolemma. This action potential stimulates the release of calcium ions from sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The depolarisation and release of calcium ions from the cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and the exposure of the binding site. The calcium ion binds to troponin. The formation of the cross-bridge between the actin and myosin. The head of the myosin binds to actin-binding sites. The actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, and the length of the I-band and H-zone decreases or it will disappear. The head of the myosin is released with the help of ATP. The hydrolysis of ATP re-activates the head of the myosin. Calcium ions are drawn back into the terminal of the sarcoplasmic reticulum by breaking the connection between actin and myosin.

A cheetah, on seeing a prey, moves towards him at a very high speed. What causes the movement of his muscles? How does the chemistry of cellular components of muscles change during this event?

Important Questions on Locomotion and Movement

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !

A cheetah, on seeing a prey, moves towards him at a very high speed. What causes the movement of his muscles? How does the chemistry of cellular components of muscles change during this event?

Important Questions on Locomotion and Movement

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !

A cheetah, on seeing a prey, moves towards him at a very high speed. What causes the movement of his muscles? How does the chemistry of cellular components of muscles change during this event?