What's important in muscle contraction is the initial trigger: an action potential traveling along the nerves to the muscles. This sets the entire process in motion.
Here's a breakdown based on the provided reference:
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Action Potential: Muscle contraction starts with a signal from the nervous system. This signal is called an action potential.
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Motor Neurons: The action potential travels along specific nerve cells known as motor neurons. These neurons transmit the signal from the brain or spinal cord to the muscle fibers.
In essence, without the action potential reaching the muscle via motor neurons, the contraction process cannot begin. The signal acts as the "on" switch for muscle activity.
