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How do muscles move when they contract?

Human BodyMuscles

Quick Answer

Muscles contract when protein filaments inside muscle fibers slide past each other. A signal from the nervous system triggers calcium release and starts the process.

The Full Story

Skeletal muscles are made of long fibers containing myofibrils, which are built from actin and myosin filaments. When a nerve signal reaches the muscle, calcium is released and allows myosin heads to grab actin and pull, shortening the muscle fiber. This sliding-filament mechanism produces movement at joints and converts chemical energy into mechanical force. Muscle contraction requires ATP, the cellโ€™s energy currency. The same basic process powers walking, lifting, and even posture control.

Key Facts

1.Muscle contraction uses actin and myosin
2.Calcium helps start contraction
3.ATP provides the energy for the process

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