Calcium sparks

<p>A calcium spark is the microscopic release of calcium (<a href="/facts/Calcium/hf252CC0">Ca2+</a>) from a store known as the <a href="/facts/Sarcoplasmic_reticulum/DVbLA7GE">sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)</a>, located within <a href="/facts/Myocytes/cP7Jea3q">muscle cells</a>. This release occurs through an <a href="/facts/Ion_channel/A46LARFH">ion channel</a> within the <a href="/facts/Lipid_bilayer/CQKQ9l3g">membrane</a> of the <a href="/facts/Sarcoplasmic_reticulum/DVbLA7GE">SR</a>, known as a <a href="/facts/Ryanodine_receptor/DrntsRrs">ryanodine receptor (RyR)</a>, which opens upon activation. This process is important as it helps to maintain Ca2+ concentration within the <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cell</a>. It also initiates <a href="/facts/Muscle_contraction/EbloCYfV">muscle contraction</a> in <a href="/facts/Skeletal_muscle/en1tVYFN">skeletal</a> and <a href="/facts/Cardiac_muscle/oMqU4Sdu">cardiac muscles</a> and <a href="/facts/Muscle_relaxation/EbloCYfV">muscle relaxation</a> in <a href="/facts/Smooth_muscles/mpcpTsHp">smooth muscles</a>. Ca2+ sparks are important in physiology as they show how Ca2+ can be used at a subcellular level, to signal both local changes, known as local control, as well as whole cell changes.
</p>

Calcium sparks open-in-new

Calcium sparks