According to the sliding filament model, when muscle tissue contracts,
A) the Z lines slide away from one another.
B) the myosin filaments shorten, while the actin filaments remain the same length.
C) the sarcomeres shorten.
D) the actin and myosin filaments shorten.
E) the T tubules shorten.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sliding filament model explains muscle contraction by stating that during contraction, the sarcomeres (the basic units of muscle fibers) shorten while the actin (thin) and myosin (thick) filaments slide past each other without changing length. This process effectively brings the Z lines closer together, shortening the muscle.

According to the Sliding Filament Model, When Muscle Tissue Contracts