Physiology · Muscular System · Medium
Myosin
Meaning: The thick filament protein in muscle whose heads pull on actin to produce contraction.
In practice: ATP is needed to release the myosin head from actin after each power stroke.
Word parts
- myo- means muscle
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related physiology words.
Which word means: The intrinsic ability of cardiac or skeletal muscle cells to shorten and generate force.
Answer: Contractility
Which word means: The production and release of spit by glands around the mouth, which moistens food and begins starch digestion.
Answer: Salivation
Words like myosin come up in the daily game
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