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Multiple Choice
Which muscle type depends solely on the sarcoplasmic reticulum as its calcium source for contraction?
A
Cardiac muscle
B
Smooth muscle
C
Skeletal muscle
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of calcium in muscle contraction. Calcium ions are essential for initiating the contraction process in all muscle types by interacting with regulatory proteins such as troponin and tropomyosin.
Step 2: Learn about the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The SR is an organelle found in muscle cells that stores and releases calcium ions during muscle contraction.
Step 3: Compare the calcium sources for different muscle types. Cardiac and smooth muscles rely on both extracellular calcium (from outside the cell) and calcium stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Skeletal muscle, however, depends solely on the calcium stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum for contraction.
Step 4: Recall the structural differences between muscle types. Skeletal muscle has a highly developed sarcoplasmic reticulum, which ensures sufficient calcium storage for contraction without needing extracellular calcium.
Step 5: Conclude that skeletal muscle is the correct answer because it exclusively uses calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum for its contraction process.