Introduction
This is an assignment that utilizes three types of definitions; parenthetical, sentence, expanded. The goal is to understand how audience and purpose indicate the need for definition, differentiate between the levels of details in definition and select the right level of detail according to the situation.
Term: Mechanotransduction
Target Audience and Situation: Third year Kinesiology students in the course Neuromuscular Integration of Human Movement.
Parenthetical Definition: Mechanotransduction is the process by which mechanical forces are transformed into biochemical signals within a cell.
Sentence Definition:
Mechanotransduction is the conversion of mechanical energy into a biochemical signal. It is a biological process by which cells detect and respond to forces such as pressure, tension, and stiffness in their environment.
Expanded Definition:
History and Background
The term “mechanotransduction” was first coined in the late 1980s to describe the process by which mechanical forces are converted into a cellular response. It refers to the ability of living cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, such as pressure, tension, and shear stress. This process is critical for normal functioning of many organs, including the heart and lungs, and is involved in a variety of physiological processes, including wound healing and tissue remodelling.
Negation
Mechanotransduction is the process by which an external mechanical stimulus is converted into a biological response. The negation of this term, then, is the absence of a biological response to an external mechanical stimulus. This could occur if the cells or tissues being exposed to the mechanical stimulus are unable to detect it or if they are unable to generate a response to it. In either case, the absence of a response would indicate a lack of mechanotransduction. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as a lack of the necessary receptors or signalling molecules, an inability of the cell or tissue to respond to the stimulus, or a lack of sufficient energy or resources to generate a response.
Operating Principle
Mechanotransduction involves the conversion of mechanical forces, such as stretching, compression, and shear stress, into biochemical signals such as changes in the activity of proteins, the release of calcium ions, or electrical signals. These signals are then propagated through the cell, leading to changes in gene expression and other cellular processes.
Example
An example of this process is how a muscle cell converts mechanical force into an electrical signal to cause muscle contraction. The force generated by the muscle contraction is detected by specialized proteins in the cell membrane, which then transduce the mechanical force into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is then sent to the brain, allowing us to move our muscles.
Visual
This is a complex visual showing the process of skeletal muscle mechanotransduction.
Conclusion:
Mechanotransduction is the process by which mechanical signals are converted into biochemical signals. It is an important process in the body as it allows cells to respond to mechanical forces and convert them into cellular signals. By controlling the expression of genes, mechanotransduction allows cells to adapt to their environment and respond to changes in mechanical forces. This process is essential for the proper functioning of the body and is involved in many physiological processes.
Work Cited
Christopher P. Cardozo, Mechanotransduction: Overview, Editor(s): Mone Zaidi, Encyclopedia of Bone Biology, Academic Press, 2020, Page 217, ISBN 9780128140826, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.62233-X.
Martineau LC, Gardiner PF. Insight into skeletal muscle mechanotransduction: MAPK activation is quantitatively related to tension. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2001 Aug;91(2):693-702. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.2.693. PMID: 11457783.
Jabre S, Hleihel W, Coirault C. Nuclear Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle. Cells. 2021 Feb 4;10(2):318. doi: 10.3390/cells10020318. PMID: 33557157; PMCID: PMC7913907.
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