Use Sophia to knock out your gen-ed requirements quickly and affordably. Learn more
×

Nervous System and Contractions

Author: Amanda Soderlind

Nervous System and Muscle Contractions

Source: Video and Images Created by Amanda Soderlind

Video Transcript
Terms to Know
Actin

A protein referred to as the thin filament of a sarcomere; creates the lighter color within a sarcomere and interacts with myosin to create movement.

Calcium

A mineral necessary for the proper development and mineralization, as well as proper nerve and muscle function.

Motor Neuron

A neuron that delivers signals to muscles or glands.

Myosin

A protein referred to as the thick filament of a sarcomere; creates the darker colors within a sarcomere and contains various heads that pull on actin filaments to create movements.

Neuromuscular Junction

The area where the end of a motor neuron comes close to a muscle fiber.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that carries signals across the synapse between cells.

Sarcomere

The functional and contractile units of skeletal and cardiac muscles; created by a specific arrangement of myofilaments called actin and myosin; each sarcomere is bordered by a z-line.

Synapse

The gap between the end of a motor neuron and a muscle fiber.

​Tropomyosin

In skeletal muscles, protein shields actin, preventing myosin from binding unless there's a signal from a nerve.

​Troponin

When a nerve signals a muscle fiber to contract, the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium, which binds the protein troponin. Troponin then causes tropomyosin to expose actin to myosin for binding, leading to a contraction.