Exam 2 Flashcards
Name the four theories which explain muscle contraction.
sliding-filament theory, excitation-contraction coupling theory, steric-block theory, and cross-bridge theory
Define the sliding filament theory.
Thin and thick myofilaments are fixed in length, but move in relation to each other
What is the result of the sliding filament theory?
Change in sarcomere length and therefore muscle shortening
What zones/bands of the sarcomere are effected in the sliding filament theory?
H zone gets narrower
I band becomes shorter
Does the A band change with the sliding filament theory?
No, the myosin length are constant
Define the excitation-contraction coupling theory.
Process by which the muscle membrane AP leads to the release of intracellular Ca++ from SR, thereby causing muscle contraction
What is considered the second messenger?
Ca++
Give the three basic steps to excitation-contraction coupling.
1) AP propagate along motor neuron to motor end plate
2) ACh binding at motor end plate
3) New AP is initiated on the muscle fiber plasma membrane
What specialized membranes are important to the excitation-contraction coupling theory?
T-tubules and Sarcoplasmic Reticulum
What two functions do the specialized membranes serve during the excitation-contraction coupling?
1) Take the AP from surface down into center of the cell
2) Allow contractile proteins to interact
What is the T tubule system?
Invaginations of surface membrane which transmit excitation signal from along the surface membrane down deep into the muscle fiber.
What is the SR and what channels/receptors are important to the excitation-contraction coupling?
The SR stores and releases Ca++ and has a DHP receptor on the T side of the terminal cisternae and the RYR on the SR side.
What type of channel is the DHPR?
Voltage dependent L type Ca++ channel
What three proteins play a major role in Ca++ binding?
Calmodulin binds Ca++ in the cytosol, Calsequestrin binds Ca++ in the SR, and TnC binds Ca++ on the troponin complex.
Define the Steric Block Theory.
The blocking of binding sites within the thin filament proteins which is required for muscle action.
What are the three subunits of Troponin and what is their function?
TnC: Ca++ binding site
TnI: Helps position Tropomyosin on Actin
TnT: Loose attachment to Tropomyosin blocking binding site
What kind of change does Ca++ binding to TnC cause?
conformational change
Describe tropomyosin structure.
Tubular regulatory protein on actin which blocks myosin binding site
What is the result of Ca++ uptake?
Muscle relaxation
What drives the unbinding of Ca++ and TnC?
SR sequestering Ca++
How long does force generation continue for?
As long as neural impulses are arriving at the NMJ and Ca++ concentrations remain high in the myofilament region
What happens to Ca++ and force when the neural impulse stops?
Reduced Ca++ and reduced force
Define the cross-bridge theory.
Movement of the thin filament across the thick filament via myosin and actin binding
What area of the thick filament is the cross-bridge formed from?
The heavy meromyosin (HMM) of myosin heavy chain (MHC)
Where is the ATPase located on the thick filament?
The HMM
What is ATPase?
An enzyme which hydrolyzes ATP on the thick filament
What is LMM and where would it be located on the thick filament?
It is the light meromyosin and is located in the tail region.
What is S1 and S2 on the thick filament? Explain from the hinge point as reference
From the hinge up, first is S2 followed by S1 on the heads
How can the action of cross-bridge be described?
As a ratchet
How often does the ratcheting occur?
Repeats as many times along the length of the fiber creating an overall large amount of shortening in the muscle
At any given time, how many of the total cross-bridges are attached to Actin and producing force during contraction?
1/2
Describe the first step of the cross-bridge theory based off of the conclusion of the previous cycle
The ATP bound to myosin is hydrolyzed to ADP +Pi which energizes myosin.
If enough cytosolic Ca++ is present, TnC becomes bound and allows for what?
Myosin to bind to Actin, allowing for formation of the cross-bridge
Describe the second step of the cross-bridge theory based off the recent hydrolysis of ATP and attachment.
The stored energy is released resulting in movement of the cross-bridge
What is the movement of the cross-bridge referred to?
The power stroke
What must attach to myosin after the power-stroke is complete? What step is this?
ATP binding allows for the myosin to detach. This is the third step
Describe the fourth step of the cross-bridge theory based off of the recent ATP binding to myosin.
The ATP is hydrolyzed, with free energy being bound to myosin. This allows the myosin to be ready to repeat the cross-bridge cycle.
What general skeletal muscle responses are analyzed during this section?
The force-frequency relationship, length-tension relationship, force-velocity relationship and the force-pCa++ relationship
Describe isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions.
Isometric resembles a fixed length
Concentric is when the external force is < force developed by the muscle . Shortening.
Eccentric is when the external force is > force developed by the muscle. Lengthening.
Describe in-vivo
In the living organism
Describe in-situ
In position or in original place
Describe in-vitro
In glass
Which experimental set-up require the muscle to be stimulated electrically?
In-situ and In-vitro
What does external stimulation of a muscle fiber allow for?
Precise control of freq. of recruitment, muscle length and load characteristics.
What is a twitch contraction?
The smallest contractile response that can be elicited
What type of delay is present in twitch contractions? What is this from?
An electrochemical delay is present for conductance>T Tubules>SR>Ca++ release> etc…
What is the twitch utilized to determine?
The elementary contractile capabilities of muscle
What is a tetanic contraction?
When a second and subsequent stimulations occur before complete relaxation.
What is the additive effect from tetanic contractions called?
Summation
What is one reason that tetanic contractions are additive?
There is already TnC bound with Ca++
How long does contraction and relaxation take?
~100 ms
How long does Excitation (With Ca++ release) take?
~5 ms
What is temporal summation?
If after the 1st impulse, a 2nd impulse is delivered before 100 ms has elapsed, the muscle will be signaled to contract before fully relaxing
What is fusion in regards to temporal summation?
The impulses appear smooth due to higher frequency of pulses per second (Hz)
What is a state of unfused in regards to temporal summation?
The impulses appear jagged, with notable difference along the impulse line. Lower frequency
Describe an isometric muscle action and label: Active force, contraction time, peak rate of relaxation and half and late relaxation times.
A
What is the force-frequency relationship?
Demonstrates the influence of modulating frequency of recruitment on force output.
Does the force-frequency relationship represent one contraction or multiple different contractions?
Multiple contractions all at different settings of frequency of stimulation
What is the fusion frequency?
The lowest frequency for which oscillations in force are not evident
What is peak force on the force-freq. relationship?
highest force obtained
What is the twich:tetanic ratio?
The developed force of a twitch contraction compared to peak force w/ summation
What is the value of the twitch:tetanic ratio?
Able to identify differences in fiber types and conditions affecting muscle (ie: cancer cachexia)
What is the length-tension relationship?
The isometric force of a muscle maximally activated is dependent upon its length
What are the 3 parts of the length-tension curve?
1) Ascending limb
2) Plateau
3) Descending limb
What type of animal was used to determine the length-tension relationship?
Frog muscle
Which way should you view the length-tension relationship?
Left
T or F: The length-tension relationship is a plot of one muscle contraction.
False: It is a plot of individual lengths and their correlated force production
What are the lengths of myosin and actin, as well as the total?
Myosin: 1.65 micrometers
Actin: 2.0 micrometers
Total: 3.65 micrometers
What is the y axis on the length-tension curve?
What is the x axis on the length-tension curve?
y=Tension
x=Length