Muscle fiber
Muscle fiber
Muscle fiber (pronounced: /ˈmʌsəl ˈfaɪbər/), also known as myocyte or muscle cell, is a type of cell found in muscle tissue. The term originates from the Latin words 'musculus' meaning 'little mouse' and 'fibra' meaning 'fiber'.
Definition
A muscle fiber is a single, elongated cell that makes up the skeletal muscle. It is responsible for muscle contraction, which allows for movement in the body. Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma, and contains many nuclei and mitochondria.
Types of Muscle Fiber
There are three main types of muscle fibers:
- Slow-twitch fibers (Type I): These fibers are fatigue-resistant and are used for long-duration, low-intensity activities such as walking or jogging.
- Fast-twitch fibers (Type IIa): These fibers are moderately resistant to fatigue and are used for moderate-intensity activities such as running or cycling.
- Fast-twitch fibers (Type IIb): These fibers fatigue quickly and are used for short-duration, high-intensity activities such as sprinting or weightlifting.
Related Terms
- Myofibril: A basic rod-like unit of a muscle fiber.
- Sarcomere: The functional unit of a myofibril.
- Actin and Myosin: The two proteins that interact to cause muscle contraction.
- Tropomyosin and Troponin: Proteins that regulate the interaction of actin and myosin.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Muscle fiber
- Wikipedia's article - Muscle fiber
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