Consider the following minerals :
- 1. Calcium
- 2. Iron
- 3. Sodium
Which of the minerals given above is/are required by human body for the contraction of muscles?
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
– **Sodium:** Sodium ions (Na⁺) play a critical role in the electrical signaling that initiates muscle contraction. An action potential, involving the influx of sodium ions across the muscle cell membrane, causes depolarization, which in turn leads to the release of calcium ions. Potassium ions (K⁺) are also crucial for repolarization and maintaining the membrane potential.
– **Iron:** Iron is vital for overall muscle function, primarily because it is a component of myoglobin, which stores oxygen in muscle cells, and enzymes involved in energy metabolism. However, it is not directly involved in the biochemical process of muscle fiber contraction itself in the same way calcium and sodium are.