MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -This process is known as myosin-actin cycling. As the myosin S1 segment binds and releases actin, it forms what are called cross bridges, which extend from the thick myosin filaments to the thin actin filaments. The contraction of myosin’s S1 region is called the power stroke (Figure 3).

Detailed explanation-2: -Cross-bridges are also called: myosin heads.

Detailed explanation-3: -Once the myosin forms a cross-bridge with actin, the Pi disassociates and the myosin undergoes the power stroke, reaching a lower energy state when the sarcomere shortens. ATP must bind to myosin to break the cross-bridge and enable the myosin to rebind to actin at the next muscle contraction.

Detailed explanation-4: -In a contracting muscle, myosin cross-bridges extending from thick filaments pull the interdigitating thin (actin-containing) filaments during cyclical ATP-driven interactions toward the center of the sarcomere, the structural unit of striated muscle.