The Contraction Cycle

3D illustration depicting the physiology of muscle contraction at the level of actin and myosin. This illustration walks through four stages of the contraction cycle. The first image labels the thin filament and thick filament of the sarcomere. Troponin, calcium, and actin are labeled. Calcium binds to troponin, revealing the active sites on the thin filament. The cross-bridge between the actin and myosin strands is labeled. The myosin head with ATP and phosphate are labeled. In the next image, the power stroke is shown. ADP and phosphate are released from the myosin head. The next image shows the myosin head detached from the thin filament when ATP binds to it. The final image shows the myosin head cocking back into its original position.

Credit
Blausen Medical

Dimensions
1920 x 4920 pixels

Print Size @ 300 dpi
6 x 16 inches / 16 x 42 cm