What chemical triggers muscle movement and can this be replicated in a lab?

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SUMMARY

The chemical responsible for muscle movement is Acetylcholine, which is released at the neuromuscular junction to stimulate muscle contraction. Nerves do not provide energy; instead, they transmit signals that trigger reactions in muscles. The energy for muscle movement is derived from glucose in the blood. Understanding these mechanisms requires a solid foundation in muscle physiology, as outlined in advanced textbooks like Berne & Levy or Guyton.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of muscle physiology
  • Familiarity with neurotransmitters, specifically Acetylcholine
  • Knowledge of the neuromuscular junction and motor neuron function
  • Basic concepts of energy metabolism in muscles
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the role of Acetylcholine in muscle contraction
  • Research the neuromuscular junction and its components
  • Explore synthetic muscle technologies and their applications
  • Examine energy metabolism in muscle cells, focusing on glucose utilization
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Physiology students, biomedical researchers, and anyone interested in the biochemical processes underlying muscle movement and synthetic muscle development.

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How do muscles work?
On a very through level.
I already know about fast/slow twitch muscles, fibers, and how muscles use oxygen, etc... But I am more interested in the chemical workings.
More so what chemical reacts with the nerves to give the muscle movement/ energy for movement
Also, can this effect be created in a lab using synthetic muscle.
 
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redrum42069 said:
How do muscles work?
On a very through level.

I'd recommend starting out by reading about it in an upper level physiology textbook, such as Berne & Levy or Guyton. That should help you focus your questions to something we could help you answer here. As it is, your question is too broad to answer in a forum post since you're asking for a complete lesson on muscle physiology.
 
I agree with Moonbear- the best place to look is in a good textbook.
However, what do you mean by this?

"More so what chemical reacts with the nerves to give the muscle movement/ energy for movement."

Nerves do not provide energy. They stimulate the reaction to occur. The energy is already in the muscle supplied in the form of glucose in the blood.

The motor neurone receives a chemical signal from the spinal cord. This instruction is then sent down the axon as an electrical action potential, and when it reaches the neuromuscular junction, it stimulates a neurotransmitter to be secreted into the synapse, which is then in turn detected by the muscle as an instruction to contract. If you're asking what this neurotransmitter is called, I think it is Acetylcholine.
 

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