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Multiple Choice
Which of the following correctly describes the initial step in the process of muscle contraction?
A
The myosin heads bind to actin filaments.
B
The sarcomere shortens as actin slides over myosin.
C
Calcium ions are released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
D
ATP binds to the myosin head.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that muscle contraction is initiated by a signal from the nervous system, which triggers the release of calcium ions.
Recognize that the sarcoplasmic reticulum is an organelle in muscle cells that stores calcium ions.
Identify that the initial step in muscle contraction involves the release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytoplasm of the muscle cell.
Know that the increase in calcium ion concentration in the cytoplasm allows calcium to bind to troponin, a regulatory protein on the actin filaments.
This binding causes a conformational change in the troponin-tropomyosin complex, exposing the binding sites on actin for the myosin heads, thus facilitating the subsequent steps of muscle contraction.