ECTOMERE Meaning and
Definition
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Ectomere is a term used in cell biology to describe a basic structural and functional unit within the muscle fibers, specifically in striated muscles. It refers to the smallest contractile unit within a myofibril, the elongated and cylindrical thread-like structure inside a muscle cell that is responsible for muscle contraction.
The ectomere is composed of two main protein filaments called actin and myosin, which interact with each other to generate force and enable muscle contraction. It is enclosed within the sarcolemma, the outer membrane of the muscle cell, and is supported by a network of other proteins, such as titin and nebulin, that help maintain its structure and integrity.
Within the ectomere, the myosin filaments are arranged in a bundled fashion, with the actin filaments sliding past them during contraction, resulting in the shortening of the muscle fiber. The interaction between actin and myosin is mediated by other proteins, such as troponin and tropomyosin, which regulate the availability of binding sites on the actin filament for myosin heads.
Understanding the structure and function of ectomeres is crucial in studying muscle physiology and the mechanisms underlying muscle contraction. It allows scientists and researchers to investigate the intricate molecular processes involved in muscle function and provides insights into various muscle-related disorders and diseases, including muscular dystrophies and myopathies.
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One of the blastomeres forming the ectoderm.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ECTOMERE
- wctomere
- sctomere
- dctomere
- rctomere
- 4ctomere
- 3ctomere
- extomere
- evtomere
- eftomere
- edtomere
- ecromere
- ecfomere
- ecgomere
- ecyomere
- ec6omere
- ec5omere
- ectimere
- ectkmere
- ectlmere
Similar spelling words for ECTOMERE
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