excitation contraction coupling (ECC)

(noun)

The physiological process of converting an electrical stimulus to a mechanical response.

Related Terms

Examples of excitation contraction coupling (ECC) in the following topics:

  • Mechanism and Contraction Events of Cardiac Muscle Fibers

    • In cardiac, skeletal, and some smooth muscle tissue, contraction occurs through a phenomenon known as excitation contraction coupling (ECC).
    • ECC describes the process of converting an electrical stimulus from the neurons into a mechanical response that facilitates muscle movement.
    • Action potentials are the electrical stimulus that elicits the mechanical response in ECC.
    • The actual mechanical contraction response in cardiac muscle occurs via the sliding filament model of contraction.
    • The pathway of contraction can be described in five steps:

  • Excitation–Contraction Coupling

    • Excitation–contraction coupling is the connection between the electrical action potential and the mechanical muscle contraction.
    • Excitation–contraction coupling is the physiological process of converting an electrical stimulus to a mechanical response.
    • It is the link (transduction) between the action potential generated in the sarcolemma and the start of a muscle contraction .
    • This diagram shows excitation-contraction coupling in a skeletal muscle contraction.
    • Explain the process of excitation-contraction coupling and the role of neurotransmitters

  • Peripheral Motor Endings

    • The highly excitable region of muscle fiber plasma membrane is responsible for initiation of action potentials across the muscle's surface, ultimately causing the muscle to contract.
    • This depolarization spreads across the surface of the muscle fiber and continues the excitation–contraction coupling to contract the muscle.
    • The affects of myasthenia gravis illustrate the importance of effective and functioning neuromuscular junctions for communication between neurons and muscles to allow contraction and relaxation of muscle fibers.
    • Skeletal muscle contracts following activation by an action potential.
    • The binding of acetylcholine at the motor end plate leads to intracellular calcium release and interactions between myofibrils to elicit contraction.