A muscle cell experiences enough stimulation that intracellular calcium cannot be restored to resting levels after the arrival of action potentials at the neuromuscular junction. This will result in which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the options are correct because they describe different aspects of the same physiological phenomenon. When intracellular calcium levels remain elevated in a muscle cell, it leads to continuous exposure of actin binding sites by preventing tropomyosin from covering them, allowing myosin heads to bind to actin continuously. This results in a sustained muscle contraction, known as tetanus, where the muscle remains contracted without relaxation.

A Muscle Cell Experiences Enough Stimulation That Intracellular Calcium Cannot