During the cross bridge cycle, what happens immediately after ATP binds to the myosin head?

When ATP binds to the myosin head during the cross bridge cycle, the immediate effect is the detachment of the myosin head from the actin filament. This occurs because the binding of ATP alters the conformation of the myosin molecule, reducing its affinity for actin. As a result, the myosin head releases from the actin filament, allowing the muscle fibers to move into a relaxed state before another contraction cycle begins.

Following this detachment, there are additional steps in the cycle: the hydrolysis of ATP, which energizes the myosin head, preparing it to reattach to actin in a cocked position. However, the key point here is that the binding of ATP is crucial for the detachment process to occur, thereby allowing the muscle contraction to continue in a controlled manner. This detachment is essential for muscle relaxation and prevents the myosin heads from being stuck to the actin filaments, which would inhibit proper muscle functioning.