Glossary Term
I Band
The I-Band refers to the lighter area of a muscle cell due to the parallel arrangement of thinner filaments (actin) and no overlap with thicker filaments (myosin). As muscle contracts, the I-bands decrease in width and move closer together. Understanding the I-Band is essential to understanding muscle physiology and contraction. Synonyms for I-Band include isotropic band and light band.
I-Band: Refers to the part of the muscle cell that looks lighter under a microscope. This area of the cell is lighter due to parallel arrangement of thinner filaments (actin), and no overlap with the thicker filaments (myosin).
- As a muscle contracts, the I-bands will decrease in width and move closer to one another.
- Saladin, K. (2014). Anatomy & physiology: The unity of form and function. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, New York. ISBN: 9780073403717
Comments
Synonyms
- Isotropic
- Light band