GENERAL HISTOLOGY

MUSCLE

SKELETAL MUSCLE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What is the name of the small contractile unit of a muscle fiber?
A
Sarcomere
B
Myofibril
C
Myofilaments
D
Fascicle
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -A sarcomere is the basic contractile unit of a myocyte (muscle fibre). A sarcomere is composed of two main protein filaments (thin actin and thick myosin filaments) which are the active structures responsible for muscular contraction.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sarcomerum. Synonyms: Myomere, Myomerum. The sarcomere is the main contractile unit of muscle fiber in the skeletal muscle. Each sarcomere is composed of protein filaments (myofilaments) that include mainly the thick filaments called myosin, and thin filaments called actin.

Detailed explanation-3: -Within the sarcoplasm of each individual muscle fibre are approximately 1, 000 to 2, 000 myofibrils. Composed of the contractile proteins actin and myosin, the myofibrils represent the smallest units of contraction in living muscle.

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