does anyone have a way of remembering what A,Z, H, and I lines are? specifically which ones shorten when musles contract? i think H and I shorten but im not sure...thx
I don't have any brilliant mnemonics or anything for you but this is how it works.
1) I band contains thin filaments only
2) H band contains thick filaments only
3) A band contains all of the thick filaments (including the part that overlaps with the actin - the H band doesn't include these parts)
4) Z line is what the actin filaments are anchored to (these are the boundaries of an individual sarcomere)
Think of the myosin filament as fixed (the A band doesn't shorten) and the actin as pulling in to either side of it. Everything with actin shortens: H zone and the I band...you were right about that.
does anyone have a way of remembering what A,Z, H, and I lines are? specifically which ones shorten when musles contract? i think H and I shorten but im not sure...thx