Lecture 9.4 main points Flashcards
what is the functional unit of the nervous system
neuron
how does the functional unit of the nervous system communicate
neurons communicate via the release of neurotransmitters
what are the signal relaying portions of neurons called and what structure are they often bundled in
nerves, bundles of axons
what is muscle connected to
at least one motor nerve
what is a motor nerve
contains axons to a few or hundreds of motor neurons
are motor axons a singular extension or can they branch
can branch many times before ending at nerve terminals
define motor unit
a motor neuron and all (four to several hundred) muscle fibers it innervates (controls)
how are motor units arranged for fine control
produce small, finely controlled movements. small motor units can contain as few as 10-20 muscle fibers
examples of fine control motor units
eye muscles, larynx muscles
how are motor units arranged for strength control
produce large, strong movements. Can have as many as 2000 muscle fibers in a motor unit
example of strength control motor unit
gastrocnemius
how are muscle fibers of a motor unit distributed in a whole muscle
spread throughout the muscle
how does the activation of a single motor unit affect the contraction of the whole muscle
typically causes a weak contraction of that muscle
do all motor units activate at the same time or do they activate asynchronously
only the muscle fibers of the specific motor unit will contract when activated by the motor unit.
ASYNCHRONOUSLY
why is it important for motor units to activate asynchronously
helps prevent, or decrease, overall muscle fatigue
describe a motor units response to a single AP in its motor neuron
results in an AP in the muscle fibers connected through NMJs with that neuron, produces a short period of motor unit’s muscle fiber contraction that generates tension
different strength and duration of twitches in whole muscle can be observed, why does this happen
due to variations in metabolic properties ad enzymes between muscle fiber types, different whole muscles have differing ratios of muscle fiber types
what is the graphical representation of a lab - measured muscle contraction called
myogram
three phases of muscle twitch
latent period, period of contraction, period of relaxation
latent period of muscle twitch
events of excitation- contraction coupling. AP must reach threshold, no visible shortening or tension of the muscle during this period
period of contraction
sarcomere shortening from cross bridge formation and power stroke produce visible tension (external tension)
period of relaxation
Ca reentry into the SR, tension declines to zero
differentiate between speed of contraction and relaxation
muscle contracts faster than it relaxes
what does a “graded response” mean in reference to muscle contraction
varying strength of contraction for different demands