GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Thin filaments are composed primarily of the contractile protein actin. As illustrated in Figures 2-8, A and B, actin is composed of small globular subunits (G actin) that form long strands called fibrous actin (F actin).

Detailed explanation-2: -Individual actin molecules are globular proteins of 375 amino acids (43 kd). Each actin monomer (globular [G] actin) has tight binding sites that mediate head-to-tail interactions with two other actin monomers, so actin monomers polymerize to form filaments (filamentous [F] actin) (Figure 11.2).

Detailed explanation-3: -The myofilaments include thick filaments, composed mainly of myosin, and thin filaments composed mainly of actin. The thick and thin filaments cause the cross-striations because of their regular overlap that is kept in register all across the diameter of the muscle fiber.