Lecture 2: Smooth Muscle Physiology Flashcards
Histological appearance of skeletal muscle.
Large, multi-nucleated striated cells
Histological appearance of smooth muscle.
Smaller, single nucleus cells with NO striations
Sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle
Large, WELL-developed SR with triads
Sarcoplasmic reticulum of smooth muscle
Poorly developed SR
Thin filament components of skeletal muscle
Actin, Tropomyosin, and troponin
Thin filament components of smooth muscle
Actin and Tropomyosin
Thick filament composition of skeletal muscle
Myosin with ATPase (faster activity)
Thick filament composition of smooth muscle
Myosin with ATPase (slow); myosin light chains
Which type of muscle contains more thin filaments; thick filaments?
- Smooth = MORE thin (2x more)
- Skeletal = MORE thick (4x more)
As skeletal muscle is stretched, what happens to the ability to generate tension (force)?
Increased stretching = Decreased tension (force)
What 5 important functions must the muscle of the gut, vasculature, and respiratory tract be able to do?
1) Contract and maintain contraction for long period of time (energy efficient)
2) Contract periodically to mix contents of organ
3) Maintain shape of organ
4) Generate active tension even when stretched
5) Use relatively little ATP
Where is smooth muscle found?
1) Vasculature (arteries in particular)
2) GI tract
3) Urogenital tract
4) Respiratory tract
5) Eye
Where do the thin filaments of smooth muscle anchor?
Dense bodies
What do the different isoforms of myosin in smooth muscle contain?
- Myosin light chain kinase
- Myosin light chain phosphatase
Is all smooth muscle the same?
No, because the needs are different based on where yo find smooth muscle, there ARE different types (although contractile mechanism is the same)
Where would you find smooth muscle with lots of gap junctions?
- The gut
- Contraction is well coordinated
Where would you find more autonomous smooth muscle with less gap junctions?
- Vasculature (arteries in particular)
Skeletal muscle is innervated by; using what neurotransmitter?
- Alpha-motorneurons arising from spinal cord
- Acetylcholine
Intrinsic innervation of smooth muscle uses; is independent of?
- Neurons (sensory and motor)
- Independent of CNS and PNS
What controls extrinsic innervation of smooth muscle; importance?
- The autonomic nervous system
- Allows CNS to control viscera
How does acetylcholine act on smooth muscle?
- Excites SOME smooth muscle (gut)
- May inhibit others (cause relaxation)
Norepi and epinephrine cause ______ of vascular smooth muscle?
Contraction
Norepi and epinephrine cause ______ of gut smooth muscle?
Inhibition
What neurotransmitter is the major inhibitor of smooth muscle?
Nitric Oxide (NO)
NO acts via what kind of mechanism?
cGMP mechanism
What is one of the major differences between skeletal and smooth muscle as far as neural control goes?
Smooth muscle CAN be DIRECTLY INHIBITED (caused to relax)