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Muscle contraction can be compared to tug of war

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Muscle contraction can be compared to tug of war

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The game tug of war is a very good analogy for muscle contraction because there are 3 stages to the game that are figuratively similar to the 3 stages of muscle contraction.

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The brief lag period between the blowing of the whistle and when the players actually begin pulling can be compared to the Latent Period of muscle contraction.
Latent Period: The time directly after receiving a stimulus (whistle) but before the contraction of the muscle (tugging of rope). It is also a period of excitation where the action potential travels through the sarcolemma which is coupled with the release of Ca+2 from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol.

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When the players are actively pulling the rope, it can be compared to the contraction period of muscle contraction.
Contraction Period: Period of time characterized by repetitive power strokes that pull thin filaments past thick filaments causing the shortening of the sarcolemma and increased muscle tension. Within the cells, Ca2+ ions are binding to troponin, which caused tropomyosin to be released, and active sites on thin filaments are being exposed.

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After the tug of war game is over, players are tired of using their energy, so they relax and build back their energy. This time can be compared to the relaxation period of muscle contraction.
Relaxation Period: Begins with the decrease and release of cross-bridges when Ca+2 is returned to its storage location in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, active sites are being covered by tropomyosin, and muscle tension decreases.