Histology of Skeletal Muscle Flashcards
Skeletal muscle
Elongated, multi-uncleared cells grouped into bundles surrounded by CT sheaths and extend from their proximal site of origin to their distal attachment
Epimysium
AKA deep fascia, dense CT surrounding the entire muscle
Perimysium
CT that surrounds a group of fibers, forms fascicles, coveys large blood vessels and nerves into the muscle
Endomysium
Delicate CT surrounding individual muscle fibers
Type I muscle fibers
AKA slow twitch/red, more efficient over long periods of time, used for postural maintenance or endurance exercise, ATP generated by ox phos, high levels of myoglobin, speed of contraction low and large motor units
Type II muscle fibers
AKA fast twitch/white, better for short bursts of speed, fatigue quickly, ATP from anaerobic glycolysis, high levels of glycogen, high speed of contraction and small motor units
Skeletal muscle in embryo
Formed by the fusion of myoblasts
Result of the fusion of myoblasts
Production of a post mitotic, multinucleated myotube
Myotube
Matures into long muscle cell
Sarcolemma
Plasma membrane of muscle cells, contains numerous ion transport proteins and receptors, surrounded by a basal lamina
Transverse tubule system
AKA T-tubules, sarcolemma finger-like invaginations that make contact with sarcoplasmic reticulum, transmits depolarization signal deep into muscle cell
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
Internal membrane network, no connection to extracellular space, makes junction complexes with T-tubules, forms triads, site of intracellular calcium storage and release
Myofibrils
Occupies most of the cytoplasm, composed of thin filaments (actin) and thick filaments (myosin), surrounded by mitochondria, SR, and T-tubules
Desmin
Anchored to inside of sarcolemma, extend from one myofibril to another, helps organize the cytoplasm to facilitate the coordinated contraction of myofibrils
Sarcomeres
Repeating contractile elements of myofibrils, contain Z-lines, I-band, A-band, H-band, M-line
Z-lines
Define boundaries of each sarcomere, contains the actin binding proteins, alpha actin
I-band
Composed exclusively of actin thin filaments, width decreases during contraction
A-band
Composed of overlapping thick and thin filaments, width remains constant during contraction
H-band
Central region of the A-band which contains only thick filaments, width decreases during contraction
M-line
Middle of the H-band, overlapping tails of thick filaments