The thick filaments run the entire length of an A band and are composed of which protein?

Study for the Ivy Tech APHY 101 Muscle System Test. Dive into comprehensive questions with clear hints and explanations, boosting your confidence for the exam!

Multiple Choice

The thick filaments run the entire length of an A band and are composed of which protein?

Explanation:
Thick filaments in skeletal muscle are built from myosin molecules. Each myosin has a long tail that forms the filament’s backbone and protruding heads that form cross-bridges with actin during contraction. The A band corresponds to the length of the thick filament, so these thick filaments run the entire length of the A band. Actin is the thin filament (found primarily in the I band and at the overlapping region within the A band), titin helps anchor thick filaments and provides elasticity, and nebulin helps align thin filaments. So the protein that makes up the thick filaments is myosin.

Thick filaments in skeletal muscle are built from myosin molecules. Each myosin has a long tail that forms the filament’s backbone and protruding heads that form cross-bridges with actin during contraction. The A band corresponds to the length of the thick filament, so these thick filaments run the entire length of the A band. Actin is the thin filament (found primarily in the I band and at the overlapping region within the A band), titin helps anchor thick filaments and provides elasticity, and nebulin helps align thin filaments. So the protein that makes up the thick filaments is myosin.

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