Question

1. If someone has a calcium deficiency, how will that effect their muscle for generation? Why would it effect  

2. How does optimal length effect the cross bridges? What happens at greater the optimal length and what happens at less the optimal length?

Answer 1

Answer 1.

The deficiency of calcium in the body is known as hypocalcemia. Calcium plays a very important role in muscle contraction. Muscle contraction can be explained by the "sliding filament theory". According to this theory there are two filaments, myosin (thick) and actin (thin). Both of these filament forms a cross bridge and slide over each other causing decrease in the length of sarcomere leading to contraction of muscle.

For all these process to happen calcium is necessary. When calcium binds to troponin the active binding sites on actin filament are uncovered, myosin head binds to these uncovered sites and forms a cross bridge. In absence of calcium there will be no crossbridge formation hence no contraction will occur.

Answer 2.

Number of cross bridges is directly proportional to the optimal length. Optimal length of sarcomere promotes maximum number of formation of cross bridges.

If the distance between sarcomeres will be greater then there will be inefficient overlapping between the myofilaments, hence less cross bridges will be formed.

If the distance between two sarcomeres is less than optimal length, then also there will be less crossbridge formation.