In: Anatomy and Physiology
what structure in the skeletal muscle stores calcium?
is it
a) transverse tubules or b) sarcoplasmic reticulum?
What structure in the skeletal muscle stores calcium?
Answer: b) Sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Explanation:
- The sarcoplasm (cytoplasm) of skeletal muscle contains sarcotubular system that consists of T-tubules and L-tubules (sarcoplasmic reticulum).
- T-tubules (transverse tubules) are infoldings of cell membrane (sarcolemma) into the muscle cell. T-tubules allow penetration of electrical membrane discharge into the inner core of muscle cell. T-tubules have dihydropyridine receptors (DHPR receptors)- a voltage gated L-type of calcium channel.
- L-tubules (longitudinal tubules) also known as sarcoplasmic reticulum are longitudinally placed tubules between two T-tubules. Dilated portions of both ends of sarcoplasmic reticulum near the T-tubules are called terminal cisternae which are the storehouse of calcium ions and sites of calcium ions release. L-tubule cisterns have ryanodine receptors (RyR)- a ligand gated calcium ions channel.
- Thus, the calcium ions required during skeletal muscle contraction are stored in the terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum (L-tubules).