Q. 37 - Biology

Question

What effect will low blood calcium have on neurons? What effect will low blood calcium have on skeletal muscles? 

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

• In the absence of calcium, neurons cannot release neurotransmitters. 
• Muscles in the skeleton do not require external calcium since it is stored in them.

Step : 1 Neurotransmitters

• The term "chemical messengers" is frequently used to describe neurotransmitters in the body.
• They are the chemicals that the nervous system use to send signals from neurons to muscles or from neurons to other neurons.
• The presynaptic terminal, or terminal end of the axon, is where vesicles, which are where neurotransmitters are normally kept, are typically found. Neurotransmitters are created by neurons and stored there.

Step : 2 Absence of calcium

• Myosin binds to actin to start cross-bridge cycling once the myosin-binding sites are exposed and if there is enough ATP available.
• Sarcomere shortening and muscle contraction follow.
• The presence of free calcium is a crucial regulator of muscle contraction since this binding cannot take place in the absence of calcium.