Muscle contraction
Understand the sliding filament theory, neuromuscular junctions and the role of ATP in muscle contraction
What you'll learn
- 1
Imagine a 🎈 balloon. When you let air out, it shrinks back down. That's a bit like how a muscle contracts — it shortens!
- 2
When a muscle contracts, what does it do?
- 3
Here's a simple picture: two hands (actin) with a finger (myosin) pulling them together. The finger slides the hands closer — that's contraction!
- 4
Let's trace what happens inside a muscle cell when it contracts.
- 5
Drag the myosin 'heads' to pull the actin filaments closer together. See the sarcomere shorten!
- 6
What substance is released inside the muscle cell to start the contraction?
- 7
Which two proteins slide past each other during muscle contraction?
Practise Muscle contraction with Whizlo
Free AI-tutored lessons, unlimited practice questions, and progress tracking for ages 16–18. Aligned to the UK National Curriculum.