A muscle cramp is a sudden, painful contraction of a muscle, during which movement is difficult. What is happening at the cellular level during a muscle cramp?

Respuesta :

At the onset of a muscle contraction, the presence of calcium triggers the opening of the Na-K channels in the membrane. Potassium is a calcium inhibitor, so as the potassium flows out of the cell, it eventually reduces the presence of calcium. This causes the closure of the Na-K channel (negative feedback mechanism). In a hypokalemic state, the lack of sufficient K doesn't inhibit the calcium channel, and in turn doesn't properly terminate the muscle contraction at the cellular level.

A muscle cramp is a sudden, painful contraction of a muscle, during which movement is difficult. At the cellular level during a muscle cramp Myosin and actin filament do not fully detach, so the muscle cannot relax.

Further Explanation:

During the muscle contraction, the calcium activates the   channels in the membrane. Potassium is an inhibitor of the calcium. So, as the potassium go out of the cell then eventually leads to decrease level of calcium. This causes the closure of the Na-K channel (negative feedback mechanism). In a hypokalemic condition, the low level of  doesn't inhibit the calcium channel. That’s way muscle contraction is not properly done at the cellular level.

In the case of the muscular cramps, the muscle contraction starts with the generation of the action potentials from the brain. The action potential developed the release of the calcium ions movement out of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (storage site of calcium). The calcium released in this process causes the contraction of the myofibrils with the help of the ATP molecules. Meanwhile, the calcium is drive back to the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the fast calcium pumps.

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Health

Topic: Muscle Cramp

Keywords:

Muscle cramp, sarcoplasmic reticulum, calcium, potassium, myofibrils, muscular cramp, activate, cell, hypokalemic condition, cellular level.

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