Motor Control Flashcards
what are the features of type I muscle fibres?
slow red muscle fibres - specialised for slow, sustained, aerobic exercise. Rich capillary supply, many mitochondria, high levels of myoglobin. Generate ATP by aerobic (oxidative phosphorylation) metabolism. Metabolism gives slow twitch
What are the features of type 2b muscle fibres?
fast, white fibres - specialised for rapid, short duration, anaerobic exercise. Fewer capillaries but rich stores of glycogen. Generate ATP by anaerobic (glycolytic) metabolism. Metabolism gives fast twitch, but they fatigue quickly. Few mitochondria.
What are the features of type 2a muscle fibres?
Fast, pale red fibres - combine properties of Type 1
and Type 2b. Good capillary supply, oxidative and glycolytic metabolism. Fast twitch, fatigue resistant.
What is the histochemistry of type I muscle fibres?
ATPase activity -neutral pH
Stained darkly
What is the histochemistry of type 2 muscle fibres?
ATPase activity - acidic pH
Stained darkly
How many muscle fibres might a single motor neuron contact in a small motor unit?
10- 20
How long does a single motor unit AP last?
7 -13 ms
What is tension summation?
If a second MU action potentials occurs within the relaxation time, higher tension generated
What type of motor units do large MNs with low resistance supply?
FF 2b
What type of motor units do small MNs with low resistance supply?
S type 1
Which motor neurons are first activated with low level activation?
small, high resistance motor neurons of small motor
units.
What is the gain of the mn pool?
Relationship between output of the motoneuron pool and synaptic input
What types of fibre does a muscle spindle contain?
A muscle spindle contains two types of intrafusal fibre, nuclear bag fibres and nuclear chain fibres. Bag fibres are innervated by Ia spindle afferents while chain fibres are innervated by group II muscle afferents.
What happens to muscle spindle in passive stretch?
Both intrafusal and extrafusal fibres stretched, spindles activated
Reflex via 1a fibres causes secondary contraction
Golgi organ not activated
what happens to muscle spindle in active stretch?
central excitation of alpha mns causes contraction of extrafusal fibres, relaxation of intrafusal fibres
Spindles not activated
Tension is low
Golgi tendon organ activated, causing relaxation
How is spindle sensitivity maintained?
alpha-gamma coactivation
Intrafusal and extrafusal fibres contract; spindles activate, reinforcing contraction stimulus via 1a fibres
Tendon organ activated causing relaxation when load is too great