Muscle contraction is defined as the activation of tension-generating sites within muscle fibers.
Contraction of a vertebrate skeletal muscle fiber is initiated when calcium ion binds to the troponin, a complex fibre protein.
ATP is critical for muscle contractions because it breaks the myosin-actin cross-bridge, freeing the myosin for the next contraction.
After the power stroke, ADP is released; however, the cross-bridge formed is still in place, and actin and myosin are bound together. ATP can then attach to myosin, which allows the cross-bridge cycle to start again and further muscle contraction can occur.
Learn more about muscles contraction here: