Which of the following is the most abundant mineral element in the skeletal muscle ?

Options

A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium
D. Phosphorous

Answer

To determine the most abundant mineral element in skeletal muscle, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Function of Skeletal Muscle**:
- Skeletal muscles, also known as voluntary or striated muscles, are essential for voluntary movements in the body, such as moving arms and legs.

2. **Identify the Key Proteins**:
- The primary contractile proteins in skeletal muscle are actin and myosin. These proteins interact to facilitate muscle contraction.

3. **Role of Mineral Elements**:
- Mineral elements play a crucial role in muscle contraction. In particular, calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are vital for the process.

4. **Mechanism of Muscle Contraction**:
- When a muscle fiber is stimulated, an action potential triggers the release of calcium ions into the sarcoplasm (the cytoplasm of muscle cells).
- Calcium ions bind to troponin, a protein that covers the binding sites on actin, thereby exposing these sites.

5. **Formation of Cross-Bridge**:
- Once the binding sites on actin are exposed, myosin can bind to actin, forming cross-bridges, which leads to muscle contraction.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Given that calcium ions are essential for muscle contraction and are released in significant amounts during this process, we conclude that calcium is the most abundant mineral element in skeletal muscle.

### Final Answer:
The most abundant mineral element in skeletal muscle is **calcium (Ca²⁺)**.

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