L16 - Alterations in skeletal muscle function Flashcards
What are the functions of skeletal muscle?
Posture
Movement
Stability of joints
Heat generation
In the remodelling of muscles, which of the following statements are true?
(i) You can increase the number but not size of the muscle fibres
(ii) You can increase the size but not number of muscle fibres
(ii) you can increase the size but not numbers of muscle fibres
How often does muscle remodel?
Continuously
How long does it take to replace to contractile proteins (actin and myosin) present in muscle fibres?
2 weeks
What is the name for when destruction of contractile proteins is greater than replacement?
Atrophy - especially present in the upper limbs of elderly
What is the name for when the replacement of contractile proteins is greater than their destruction?
Hypertrophy - muscle increases in (cell) size
What effect on muscles due to exercise is there little evidence for?
hyperplasia
What are the affects on skeletal muscle of exercise?
metabolic adaption Increased volume of mitochondria Increased ATPase SR swells Increased density of T tubule systems Increased Z band width Increase in number of contractile proteins
What is the purpose of the Z line?
Serves as an anchoring point for actin, at either end of the sarcomere
What is an example of high resistance exercise?
Weightlifting at high intensity e.g. 70-90% intensity (of 1 repetition max), short duration (3 sets of 8-12 reps), modest frequency (2-3 days per week)
What is the effect on muscle of high resistance exercise?
- Larger muscle - stimulates contractile protein synthesis -> fatter muscle fibres
- Increased number of cross-link between C proteins
Increased muscle mass and strength may lead to HYPERTROPHY (myosatelite cells)
What is an example of an endurance exercise?
Jogging e.g. low intensity for longer duration (30-60 mins) for 5 days a week
What is the effect of endurance exercise on skeletal muscle?
Increases its metabolic activity without increasing its size:
- Stimulates synthesis of mitochondrial proteins
- Vascular changes -> greater oxygen utilisation
- Shift to oxidative metabolism (lipids) - therefore reducing the concentration of lipids in blood
Give examples of disuse atrophy
Bed rest
Limb immobilisation
Sedentary behaviour
What happens in disuse atrophy to the skeletal muscles?
Loss of contractile proteins -> reduced muscle fibre diameter -> loss of power
Define sarcopenia
the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength as a result of ageing
When do muscle begin to atrophy?
30+ (slowly at first)
Approximately how much muscle mass is lost by age 80?
50%
What problems can loss of muscle mass have in the elderly?
- Problems with mobility - e.g. getting out of chairs, due to weaker muscles
- Temperature regulation - less heat produced from shivering
What is denervation atrophy (neurogenic muscular atrophy)?
Atrophy caused by inhibition of a motor nerve
What are signs of motor neuron lesions?
Weakness
Flaccidity (part of body soft and hanging limply/loosely)
Muscle atrophy
How long does it take for re-innervation of skeletal muscle?
Re-innervation within 3 months for recovery
How does atrophied muscle compare to the look of normal muscle?
Atrophic fibres are small, angulated and brightly eosinophilic. Looks like an apparent increase in the number of nuclei.
How can you increase muscle length?
Stretching