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ATP is the abbreviated term used to refer to a chemical
called adenosine
triphosphate.
ATP consists of adenosine and three phosphate groups.
It is called triphosphate because of it includes three phosphate
groups and has the chemical formula: C10H8N4O2NH2(OH)2(PO3H)3H
.
ATP plays an important role in muscle actions (contraction
and relaxation), as follows: The myosin
heads (within
the thick
filaments) include an enzyme called ATPase that splits ATP into
ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and a phosphate group.
That is:
ATP_-->_ Adenosine
diphosphate (ADP) + energy + inorganic Phosphate
Very many molecules
of ATP are split in this way with every movement
of every muscle.
ATP cannot be stored, but is used as it is produced
by the body.
Each ATP molecule is recycled
2000 to
3000 times during a single day. The opposite to the above process is:
Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) + inorganic Phosphate + energy _-->_ ATP
This Section consists of short summaries about the
structures that form the muscles of the body.
This list is not exhaustive but is intended to be appropriate for students
of A-Level Human Biology, ITEC courses in massage and related subjects,
and some other courses in Health Sciences.
For more general information about Muscles see
the pages about: Anterior
Muscles, Posterior
Muscles, Facial
Muscles, Terminology
about Muscles, and the Structure
of Muscles.
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