The explanation I’ve heard is that we can move because our muscles expand and contract. But then I don’t know how they do that. It feels to me like the answer I hear about how I can move is “smaller things that you are made from move and it makes you move”. I would like to understand on a fundamental level how this process works. I want to know what the smallest component of that process does that results in me being able to do something like type on a keyboard. Thanks.
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Muscles work based off very small electrical signals from the brain…To put it as simply as I can it’s a little bit like a very tiny version of an automatic door at a grocery store…
A signal is recieved (from the brain in the case of a person or the proximity scanner of the door) then a current is run into a small device of some kind (muscle fibers in a person or the electric motor in the door mechanism) and the device either contracts (tightens) or expands (relaxes) depending on the signal that is recieved…
Living creatures brains are remarkably efficient at this sort of communication within its own body…
That’s sort of the short and dirty of how muscles in general work…
Hopefully that makes some sense…
The actual physical movement comes from a protein called [actin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actin). Like many biological molecules, actin has sites on its surface that can bind to ATP, the energy-storage molecule used by all living things. When ATP binds to those sites, it gets broken apart, and in the process it changes the shape of the actin molecule.
The body regulates this process by controlling the chemical environment around the fibers. Under normal circumstances, the actin is bound to other substances, but flooding the area with calcium ions frees it up to interact with ATP.
Muscles work based off very small electrical signals from the brain…To put it as simply as I can it’s a little bit like a very tiny version of an automatic door at a grocery store…
A signal is recieved (from the brain in the case of a person or the proximity scanner of the door) then a current is run into a small device of some kind (muscle fibers in a person or the electric motor in the door mechanism) and the device either contracts (tightens) or expands (relaxes) depending on the signal that is recieved…
Living creatures brains are remarkably efficient at this sort of communication within its own body…
That’s sort of the short and dirty of how muscles in general work…
Hopefully that makes some sense…
The actual physical movement comes from a protein called [actin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actin). Like many biological molecules, actin has sites on its surface that can bind to ATP, the energy-storage molecule used by all living things. When ATP binds to those sites, it gets broken apart, and in the process it changes the shape of the actin molecule.
The body regulates this process by controlling the chemical environment around the fibers. Under normal circumstances, the actin is bound to other substances, but flooding the area with calcium ions frees it up to interact with ATP.
You’re essentially asking how/why metabolism in general happens. I’m not sure I can ELI5 that, but at the end of the “why” chain is just chemistry. Molecules interact in certain set ways, and the simplest living thing thing is a big group of molecules, doing exactly the right chemical reactions that keep those reactions going and make copies of the thing.
Your muscles move because chemical reactions in your brain, because your DNA built your brain to be a chemical reaction machine, because every brain that didn’t work that way died.
You’re essentially asking how/why metabolism in general happens. I’m not sure I can ELI5 that, but at the end of the “why” chain is just chemistry. Molecules interact in certain set ways, and the simplest living thing thing is a big group of molecules, doing exactly the right chemical reactions that keep those reactions going and make copies of the thing.
Your muscles move because chemical reactions in your brain, because your DNA built your brain to be a chemical reaction machine, because every brain that didn’t work that way died.
On a basic level cells are mechanical machines using the properties of atoms to generate and controll movement and function.
The basic elemental forces of atoms cause them to interact (chemical reactions) and the shape and form of proteins (the building block of cells) is designed to precisely limit and control these reactions to serve exact functions.
Proteins are special molecules commonly arranged in chains composed of non-reactive exterior proteins folded around reactive interiors. The shape and composition ensures that only specific things can ‘touch’ and react with the interior.
The function of muscle proteins is to change shape when reacting. They are told by electric signals generated by proteins whos role is to do that.
The ultimate origin of the energy is through food. Various process strip energy from the food and add it into you’re cells.
On a basic level cells are mechanical machines using the properties of atoms to generate and controll movement and function.
The basic elemental forces of atoms cause them to interact (chemical reactions) and the shape and form of proteins (the building block of cells) is designed to precisely limit and control these reactions to serve exact functions.
Proteins are special molecules commonly arranged in chains composed of non-reactive exterior proteins folded around reactive interiors. The shape and composition ensures that only specific things can ‘touch’ and react with the interior.
The function of muscle proteins is to change shape when reacting. They are told by electric signals generated by proteins whos role is to do that.
The ultimate origin of the energy is through food. Various process strip energy from the food and add it into you’re cells.
Think of organic molecules as magnets shaped like puzzle pieces. When they come across another molecule that has the right magnetism and shape, they connect, forming a new shape with new magnetism. This new molecule can now connect with different molecules than before.
Everything your cells do, including the expansions and contractions that create movement, are just chain reactions of molecules linking together or splitting apart to form new shapes. Ultimately, all movement is just little magnets interacting with each other.
Think of organic molecules as magnets shaped like puzzle pieces. When they come across another molecule that has the right magnetism and shape, they connect, forming a new shape with new magnetism. This new molecule can now connect with different molecules than before.
Everything your cells do, including the expansions and contractions that create movement, are just chain reactions of molecules linking together or splitting apart to form new shapes. Ultimately, all movement is just little magnets interacting with each other.
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