Mammalian vertebrate are known for their ability to move at fast speeds, to climb great heights, to swim at great lengths, and much more. One explanation for these abilities lies at the molecular level of the skeletal muscle. ATP is well known to be the energy source for muscle contraction as its hydrolysis energizes the globular heads of myosin for force contraction, and its binding to myosin allows for repetition of cross-bridge cycle (BIO270 Pre-Lab 2 Manual, University of Toronto, 2014). Furthermore it is known that nervous impulse in needed for contraction, as most skeletal muscles are neurogenic and receive signals from the motor neuron at the site of the motor end plate (Moyes and Schutle, 2008). When a sacrolemma is excited by a nerve pulse, Na+ channels open and an inward rush of Na+ causes a rapid depolarization; Na+ channels begin to close a while after, as K+ channels open, causing the cell to repolarize (Moyes and Schutle, 2008). After this, hyperpolarization occurs, where the inside of the muscle cell becomes more negative than the resting membrane potential (RMP), but it quickly reaches the RMP at -70mV (Moyes and Schutle, 2008).…show more content… However it is not known which exact cation(s) links excitation to contraction: understanding this mechanism provides insight into the workings of the cell but can also be applied medical conditions, such as the case of malignant hypothermia
