ABSTRACT
Behavior traits, such as physical activity, are generally accepted to be a result of environmental and genetic/biological factors. A large amount of literature has examined the environmental influence on physical activity. There is limited literature addressing the role of potential peripheral “capability to be active” factors in regulating physical activity. The available studies in this area have focused on skeletal muscle with potential peripheral factors that may be associated with physical activity regulation being components of substrate utilization and skeletal muscle contraction. Inherent mechanisms by which skeletal muscle can regulate physical activity may include mechanisms associated with metabolism, contraction, and calcium flux. Specifically, the ability to transport glucose and fatty acids to the working tissue may increase physical activity levels. During muscle contraction, the axon terminal of a motor neuron releases a neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the sarcolemma, which transmit an action potential to the transverse tubule of the sarcolemma.
