What Histological Changes Occur During Muscle Contraction?
During muscle contraction, several histological changes can be observed:
Sarcomere Shortening: The sarcomere shortens as actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, bringing the Z-lines closer. H and I Bands: The H band (myosin only) and the I band (actin only) decrease in width, while the A band (length of the myosin filament) remains constant. Cross-Bridge Cycling: Continuous formation and breaking of cross-bridges between actin and myosin filaments.