Transverse Tubules
Transverse Tubules (a term that is sometimes abbreviated to T Tubules), are tunnel-like extensions of sarcolemma that pass through muscle cells (which are also called 'muscle fibres' and 'muscle fibers') from one side of the cell to the other.
It is due to the side-to-side, i.e. across the muscle, orientation of these structures that they are referred to as "transverse".
The functions of transverse tubules
Transverse tubules play an important role in the physiology of muscle contraction:
- Muscle action potential, which is the movement of electrical charge, travelling along transverse tubules triggers the release of calcium(2+) ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
- This allows the calcium (2+) ions to flood into the sarcoplasm,
- ... which causes actions and movements of proteins (including actin, myosin, troponin, and tropomyosin) within the myofibrils that eventually result in muscle contraction.
See also more about the types of muscle contraction.
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 other courses in health sciences. For more general information about muscles see
the pages about:
This section is about the
anatomical structures of muscles.
- Anterior Muscles
- Posterior Muscles
- Facial Muscles
- Muscle Terminology (Definitions)
- 1. Structure of Muscle
- 2. Structure of Muscle Cells
- 3. Muscle Filaments
- 4. Sliding Filament Theory
- 5. Neuromuscular Junction
- 6. Actions at Neuromuscular Junction
- Types of Muscle Contractions
- Muscular Disorders
- Effects of exercise on muscles
