Question

What is the sarcoplasmic reticulum? how does it aid in the stimulation of muscle contraction?

Answer 1

It bathes the sarcomere in calcium.

Activated when muscle cells are stimulated.

It stores large amounts of calcium.

Answer 2

The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a specialized type of smooth ER which regulates the calcium concentration in the cytoplasm of striated muscle cells during muscle contraction.