Question

Describe the structure of a vertebrate skeletal muscle. Explain the sliding filament model of muscle contraction.

Answer 1

Structure of vertebrate skeletal muscle:

Each skeletal muscle fibre is a single cylindrical muscle cell. An individual skeletal muscle may be made up of hundreds, or even thousands, of muscle fibres, bundled together and wrapped in a connective tissue covering. Each muscle is surrounded by a connective tissue sheath called the epimysium.

The Sliding filament model-

The sliding filament theory of muscle contraction was developed to fit the differences observed in the named bands on the sarcomere at different degrees of muscle contraction and relaxation. The mechanism of contraction is the binding of myosin to actin, forming cross-bridges that generate filament movement.