Midterm 6 Flashcards
Muscle function Reflexes
A neuron that synapses with multiple muscle fibers and provides excitation for muscle fibers to generate tension
Alpha motor neuron
A motor unit is comprised of…
The alpha motor neuron and the skeletal fibers it innervates
A motor unit follows an “all or none” principle, meaning…
All of the motor units in a muscle are excited if one is excited
What is a motor pool?
All the motor neurons that innervate a single muscle
Motor neurons are _________________ on the longitudinal axis of the spinal cord
grouped together
What are the three parts of the neuromuscular junction (relevant to this course)?
1) Presynaptic terminal
2) Synaptic cleft
3) Postsynaptic muscle fiber (motor endplate)
What is the presynaptic terminal in the neuromuscular junction?
The presynaptic terminal is the motor neuron
What is the synaptic cleft in the neuromuscular junction?
The synaptic cleft is the area/space between the presynaptic neuron and the postsynaptic muscle fiber
Where is neurotransmitter released in the neuromuscular junction?
Neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft
What is the postsynaptic muscle fiber in the neuromuscular junction?
The motor endplate
What part of the neuromuscular junction contains acetylcholine receptors?
The motor endplate
List the steps of synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction:
- Depolarization of the presynaptic membrane causes an influx of calcium (Ca2+)
- Acetylcholine is released into the synaptic cleft via vesicles
- Acetylcholine binds to receptors on muscle membrane
- Causes depolarization of motor endplate (end plate potential, specific to muscle fibers, similar to graded potential)
- End plate potential triggers an action potential if it reaches threshold
What happens after synaptic transmission
Acetylcholine is broken down by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase and the vesicles are recycled
What is the principle function of the safety factor relating to the neuromuscular junction?
The safety factor increases the chance that the muscle will contract even if fatigued.
Explain the safety factor of the neuromuscular junction:
Motor neurons release extra acetylcholine to depolarize the postsynaptic membrane, this increases the chance that the muscle will contract even if fatigued
Myasthenia gravis results in a loss of acetylcholine receptors in the muscle fibers, what does this cause?
Reduced membrane depolarization and smaller safety factor which in turn results in weakness of the muscles (a normal level of depolarization does not occur; therefore, the safety factor is also decreased)
Each muscle fiber is surrounded by the ___________________.
Sarcolemma
What is the function of sarcolemma?
Allows depolarizing current to reach the sarcomeres
What are T-tubules?
Openings in the sarcolemma that allow current to travel
What is the sarcoplasmic reticulum?
A net-like structure that stores, releases, and retrieves calcium
_______________ are the smallest functional unit of the muscle fiber
Sarcomeres
Sarcomeres consist of _____ and ______ filaments.
Actin and myosin filaments
Actin and myosin are arranged in series along the entire length of the muscle fiber, true or false?
True
Thick filament =
Think filament =
Thick filament = myosin
Thin filament = actin
Name the (general) steps of excitation-contraction coupling:
1: Endplate potential triggers action potential
2: Action potential travels into muscles via T-tubules
3: Release of calcium (Ca2+) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
4: Interaction of actin and myosin
What aspect of the muscle fiber is responsible for calcium primarily?
The sarcoplasmic reticulum
If calcium is not released, actin and myosin are still able to interact to cause contraction of the muscle, true or false?
False, if calcium is not released, actin and myosin will not interact
Calcium is a ________________ from action potential to muscle contraction.
Secondary messenger
Muscle contraction is dependent of release of _________________ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Calcium
Explain the sliding filament theory:
1: Myosin head is in a ‘cocked’ position with ATP present
2: Calcium reveals binding site on actin (pushes troponin out of the way)
3: Myosin head binds with actin (cross-bridge)
4: ‘Powerstroke’ occurs - myosin pulls actin towards the center of the sarcomere
5: When ATP is still present: myosin dissociates from actin, myosin head is ‘re-cocked’, myosin binds to next active site
6: Cross-bridge cycling (repeats)
When does muscle relaxation occur?
Relaxation occurs when simulation of the motor neuron stops
How does muscle relaxation occur? (in simple terms)
Calcium is pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, breaking the link between actin and myosin, causing the muscle to relax
Relaxation will also occur when ATP is no longer available
The amount of force (tension) a muscle can generate is dependent on: (6 factors)
- Muscle length
- Muscle velocity and direction
- Innervation ratio
- Motor unit types
- Size principle
- Rate coding
How does muscle length affect the amount of force a muscle is able to produce?
The force produced by a muscle varies with muscle length.
_______________ and _____________________ contribute to total tension in the muscle.
Active contraction and passive structures
Active contraction and passive structures contribute to total tension in the muscle, what are these passive structures and how do they contribute?
Weak actin-myosin bonds, connective tissue, and titin act like an elastic.
Increased tension with increased length.
Passive structures contribute to total tension in the muscle how?
Increased length = increased tension (elastic like)
How does the active contribution relate to muscle length?
Smaller force generated when moving away from the optimal length during active contraction (as there is less overlap between actin and myosin).
The total tension of a muscle gets higher as a muscle is _____________ (lengthened or shortened?)
Lengthened
During concentric contractions of the muscle there is __________ tension with increasing velocity. Why?
During concentric contractions (shortening) there is less tension with increasing velocity.
Cross-bridges cannot cycle quickly enough.
During eccentric contractions of the muscle there is __________ tension with increasing velocity. Why?
During eccentric (lengthening) contractions of the muscle there is more tension with increasing velocity.
There is a greater percentage of cross-bridges that remain attached (greater passive contribution)
What is innervation ratio?
Innervation ratio is the number of muscle fibers innervated by a single motor neuron.
A muscle fiber is synapsed by _________(#) motor neuron(s).
A muscle fiber is synapsed by one motor neuron.
What type of muscles have a higher innervation ratio?
Larger, more powerful muscles
Innervation ratio differs by muscle type:
Power/force muscles =
Precision muscles =
Power/force muscles = higher innervation ratio
Precision muscles = lower innervation ratio
The number of muscle fibers innervated by a single alpha motor neuron
Innervation ratio
Explain the characteristics of Type I motor units:
- Slow
- Small muscle fibers
- Rich in myoglobin, mitochondria, and capillaries
- Sustained muscular contraction
- Fatigue-resistant
- Low-threshold for activation (activated first according to size principle)
Explain the characteristics of Type IIa motor units:
- Fast fatigue-resistant
- Medium sized muscle fibers
- Contract less quickly than type IIx
- Generate larger forces
Explain the characteristics of Type IIx motor units:
- Fast fatigable
- Large muscle fibers that contract quickly
- Generate larger forces
- Sparse mitochondria
- Easily fatigued
- High activation threshold
What muscle type (motor unit type) has the highest activation threshold?
Type IIx (fast-fatigable)
Explain the size principle of motor recruitment
With increasing levels of motor activation, motor units are recruited from smallest to largest
Explain rate coding:
Rate coding is the motor unit firing rate.
Smaller muscles typically rely on rate coding while larger muscles rely more on the size principle for recruitment.
Age has an impact on neuromuscular function, action potential propagation is ______________ along alpha motor neuron axons.
slowed
Age has an impact on neuromuscular function, there is often reduced ____________ of active areas in the presynaptic terminal.
Reduced density
Age has an impact on neuromuscular function, there is often a loss of motor units (number decreases) but an increased…
Size of remaining motor units due to collateral sprouting
What is the impact of ALS on neuromuscular function?
ALS affects specific motor pools and types of motor units.
Rapid loss of fast-fatigable neurons, followed by a loss of fast-fatigue resistant neurons.
There is relative sparing of type I neurons (slow).
What is the impact of stroke on neuromuscular function?
Loss of motor units of paretic side.
Smaller muscle cross-sectional area.
Reduced ability to use size-principle.