Chapter 8: Skeletal Muscle Structure and Function Flashcards
from bigger picture to smaller details, describe muscle structure
muscle —> fascicles —> muscle fibers (cells) —> myofibrils —> sarcomeres —> thick and thin filaments
how many nuclei do skeletal muscle fibers have
many nuclei among the entire length of the muscle fiber
where are subsarcolemmel (SS) mitochondria located? purpose?
directly beneath the cell membrane; produce cellular energy needed to maintain active transport of ions across sarcolemma (to establish a concentration gradient for action potentials)
where are intermyofibrillar mitochondria (IMF) located? purpose?
located near the myofibrillar (contractile) proteins; provide energy needed to sustain muscle contraction
purpose of satellite cells
increase number of nuclei in muscle fibers during muscle growth
what does an increase in # of nuclei allow for muscle fibers?
greater protein synthesis, which is important for muscle growth in response to strength training
non-endocrine functions of skeletal muscle
-force production for locomotion and breathing
-force production for postural support
-heat production during cold stress (shivering thermogenesis)
endocrine functions of skeletal muscle
produce myokines and IL-6 during contraction, promote anti-inflammatory environment
purpose of myokines
stimulate glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation, promote blood vessel growth in muscle, promote liver glucose production and triglyceride breakdown
purpose of IL-6 during exercise
anti-inflammatory effects which reduces chronic inflammation
what is advantageous about an anti-inflammatory environment induced by exercise?
reduces chronic inflammation, reduces risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers
muscles that decrease joint angles
flexors
muscles that increase joint angles
extensors
describe static exercise
muscle exerts force without changing length (i.e. pulling against immovable object or postural muscles)
describe concentric dynamic exercise
muscle shortens during force production
describe eccentric dynamic exercise
muscle produces force but length increases, this is associated with muscle fiber injury and soreness
define motor unit
motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates
role of somatic motor neurons of the PNS
carry neural messages from spinal cord to skeletal muscles
define neuromuscular junction
junction between motor neuron and muscle fiber
define motor end plate
pocket formed around motor neuron by the sarcolemma of the muscle fiber
describe the sliding filament model
muscle shortening occurs due to the movement of the thin filament over the thick filament
during muscle contraction, there is a reduction in distance between the __ lines of the sarcomere
Z lines
5 stages of excitation-contraction coupling
1) action potential stimulates Ach release from alpha motor neuron at the neuromuscular junction
2) Ach induces an AP in muscle fiber; AP spreads down sarcolemma and T-tubules
3) AP stimulates Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum
4) Ca2+ initiates tropomyosin displacement, revealing myosin-binding sites
5) myosin forms cross-bridges with actin, producing force
7 stages of cross-bridge cycling
1) myosin binding sites on the actin molecule are covered in resting fibers
2) the AP releases calcium from SR
3) Ca2+ binds troponin; tropomyosin moves, revealing binding sites
4) cross bridge forms when myosin heads bind actin
5) myosin head pivots, moving actin, ADP and Pi dissociate from myosin head
6) myosin head releases actin when a fresh ATP binds
7) myosin head bends next actin; ATP is cleaved to ADP + Pi and the cycle repeats