Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Smooth Muscle Contraction01:25

Smooth Muscle Contraction

10.1K
Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
10.1K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

5.4K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
5.4K
Structure of Cardiac Muscles01:13

Structure of Cardiac Muscles

21.5K
Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, is a specialized type of muscle found exclusively in the heart. Its unique structural and functional characteristics enable the heart to perform its vital role of pumping blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, possess an endomysium and perimysium but do not have an epimysium.
Compared to skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle cells are small and mostly have a single nucleus. Additionally, they are usually...
21.5K
Muscle Contraction01:10

Muscle Contraction

9.5K
In skeletal muscles, acetylcholine is released by nerve terminals at the motor endplate—the point of synaptic communication between motor neurons and muscle fibers. The binding of acetylcholine to its receptors on the sarcolemma allows entry of sodium ions into the cell and triggers an action potential in the muscle cell. Thus, electrical signals from the brain are transmitted to the muscle. Subsequently, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine to prevent excessive...
9.5K
Muscle Contraction01:15

Muscle Contraction

101.6K
 
101.6K
Parasympathetic Signaling01:30

Parasympathetic Signaling

4.3K
Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
The effects of...
4.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Identifying markers of cachexia and nutritional deficit on radical radiotherapy outcomes in lung and head and neck cancer.

Current opinion in supportive and palliative care·2026
Same author

Choroid plexus organoids mimic amyloid uptake at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid-barrier.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same author

Prognostic Implications of HPV Cell-Free DNA Serial Testing During Follow-Up of p16 Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Curative-Intent Treatment.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2025
Same author

Effects of Natura 2000 on nontarget bird and butterfly species based on citizen science data.

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·2019
Same author

Negative relationships between species richness and temporal variability are common but weak in natural systems.

Ecology·2018
Same author

Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic.

Scientific reports·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
07:56

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development

Published on: January 26, 2018

17.5K

Progress in understanding electro-mechanical signalling in the myometrium.

S Wray1, T Burdyga, D Noble

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

Acta Physiologica (Oxford, England)
|December 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary

This review details uterine contractility and excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). Understanding ECC mechanisms in the myometrium aids developing treatments for labor disorders and postpartum hemorrhage.

Keywords:
calciumcontractionmembrane potentialsmooth muscleuterus

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential
07:41

Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential

Published on: January 18, 2019

8.2K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Labor Management Through Electromyometrial Imaging for Understanding Uterine Contractions
08:07

Author Spotlight: Advancing Labor Management Through Electromyometrial Imaging for Understanding Uterine Contractions

Published on: May 26, 2023

2.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
07:56

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development

Published on: January 26, 2018

17.5K
Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential
07:41

Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential

Published on: January 18, 2019

8.2K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Labor Management Through Electromyometrial Imaging for Understanding Uterine Contractions
08:07

Author Spotlight: Advancing Labor Management Through Electromyometrial Imaging for Understanding Uterine Contractions

Published on: May 26, 2023

2.0K

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Uterine contractility is crucial for reproductive health.
  • Dysfunctions in uterine muscle function lead to challenging clinical conditions.
  • Existing treatments for uterine disorders have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a state-of-the-art review of uterine contractility, focusing on excitation-contraction coupling (ECC).
  • To integrate electrophysiological data, calcium measurements, confocal microscopy, and molecular biology to understand myometrial mechanical output.
  • To identify new drug targets for treating uterine dysfunctions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on uterine contractility and ECC.
  • Integration of data from electrophysiology, intracellular calcium measurements, confocal microscopy, and molecular biology.
  • Analysis of biochemical and molecular pathways involved in myometrial function.

Main Results:

  • Advances in understanding the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and stretch-activated K channels in uterine contractility.
  • Established links between molecular pathways and myometrial mechanical output.
  • Identified areas requiring further research, including pacemaking and ion channel interactions.

Conclusions:

  • New knowledge of ECC provides a basis for developing novel therapeutics for uterine disorders.
  • Targeting ECC mechanisms can address clinical challenges like preterm labor and postpartum hemorrhage.
  • Further research is needed on uterine pacemaking and environmental influences on ion channel activity.