Histology Flashcards
Skeletal muscle structure
Myofibres arranged in fascicles
Connective tissue in skeletal muscle
Epimysium
Perimysium
Endomysium
Basement membrane in skeletal muscle
Surrounds individual myofibres
Collage, glycoproteins and proteoglycans
Role of basement membrane in skeletal muscle
Tensile strength, regeneration and development
Myotendinous junction
Transmits force of muscle contraction the the tendon
Skeletal muscle innervation
Each fibre innervated by one nerve, with cell bodies in anterior horn of spinal cord or brainstem
Motor unit
One neuron innervated multiple muscle fibres
Neuromuscular junction
Synapse- rapid transmission of depolarising impulse
ACh binds post-synaptic AChR
Role of proprioception
Length and tensiom
Muscle spindles
Encapsulated intrafusal fibres
Mediate stretch reflexes and proprioception
Golgi tendon organs
Tension
Control of skeletal muscle
Primary motor cortex
Basal ganglia/ cerebellar systems
Dessucation of Corticospinal tract in medulla
Anterior horn cell
LMN
Neuromuscular junction
Muscle control is
Somatotopic
Contalateral
Studying skeletal muscle
Muscle biopsy
Requires the use of frozen sections and good orientation
Electron microscopy
Molecular tests
Muscle fibre types
Slow twitch
Fast twitch
Slow twitch muscle fibres
Type 1
Oxidative
Fatigue resistant
Slow twitch muscle fibres stain ….
Red
Fast twitch muscle fibres
Fatigue rapidly but generate a large peak of muscle tension
2A- glycolytic and oxidative
2B- glycolytic
Colour of 2A fast twitch muscle fibres
Intermediate - pink
Colour of 2B fast twitch muscle fibres
White
Motor unit
Lower motor neurone and the fibres it innervates
Neurone and its fibres the same type
Fibre type dependent on neuron
Size of motor unit varies between muscles
What causes fibre atrophy (shrinks)
Loss of innervation of motor units