MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The sliding filament model of muscle contraction, put forward by Hugh Huxley and Jean Hanson in 1954, is 60 years old in 2014. Formulation of the model and subsequent proof was driven by the pioneering work of Hugh Huxley (1924–2013).

Detailed explanation-2: -According to the sliding filament theory, muscle contraction occurs through the relative sliding of two sets of filaments (actin and myosin). This sliding is produced by cyclic interactions of sidepieces from the myosin filament (cross-bridges) with specific sites on the actin filament.

Detailed explanation-3: -The most widely accepted theory explaining how muscle fibers contract is called the sliding filament theory. According to this theory, myosin filaments use energy from ATP to “walk” along the actin filaments with their cross bridges.

Detailed explanation-4: -Muscle contraction occurs when the thin actin and thick myosin filaments slide past each other. It is generally assumed that this process is driven by cross-bridges which extend from the myosin filaments and cyclically interact with the actin filaments as ATP is hydrolysed.