A journey through the mechanisms of muscles and muscular contraction. I begin by outlining the key structural elements of muscle cells, including the sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, the myofibrils and their myofilaments. I then explain the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction, and how it is governed by neural signals through the release of calcium. I conclude with a brief overview of the types of muscle contractions, the difference between fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibres, and a short discussion of some metabolic aspects of muscle function, including the role of creatine phosphate. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 26: Human Organ Systems.
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Episode 143: Climate Modelling
Episode 142: The Greenhouse Effect
Episode 141: Natural Climate Change
Episode 140: A History of Earth's Climate
Special Episode: Dinosaurs in Popular Culture
Episode 139: Cybersecurity and Cryptocurrencies
Episode 138: Biochemistry and Metabolism
Episode 137: The Digestive System
Episode 136: Introduction to General Relativity
Episode 135: The Science of Emotion
Episode 134: Hormones and the Endocrine System
Episode 133: Motor Control
Special Episode: Evolution and Genetics
Special Episode: Language in Brains and Machines
Episode 131: Sleep Science
Episode 130: Transition Metal Chemistry
Episode 129: Glaciers, Ice, and Groundwater
Episode 128: Wind, Deserts, and Coasts
Episode 127: Weathering, Erosion, and Rivers
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