MSK PHYSO Flashcards
What is the role of ACh in muscle cell excitation?
ACh (acetylcholine) is released by motor neurons to stimulate the muscle cell, initiating a change in membrane potential.
How do changes in membrane potential relate to muscle contraction?
Changes in membrane potential lead to the development of action potentials, which ultimately force the muscle to shorten or contract.
What does it mean for a muscle to be “excitable”?
“Excitable” means that muscles can respond to nerve signals and initiate action potentials.
Explain the contractile nature of muscles.
Muscles are contractile because they can forcibly shorten in response to nerve stimulation.
Describe the concepts of muscle extensibility and elasticity.
Muscle extensibility refers to the ability of muscles to stretch beyond their normal resting length, and muscle elasticity enables them to return to their resting length after stretching.
How do muscles contribute to producing movement?
Muscles contribute to producing movement by contracting together to move the skeleton.
Why is muscle stabilization important for maintaining posture?
Muscle stabilization is crucial for maintaining posture against the force of gravity.
How do muscles wrap around joints to stabilize them?
Muscles stabilize joints by wrapping around them, providing support and preventing excessive joint movement.
What is the relationship between cellular respiration and heat generation in muscles?
Heat generation in muscles is a byproduct of cellular respiration, with energy released in the form of heat.
What is the purpose of shivering in relation to muscle function?
Shivering involves quivering contractions of muscles, generating heat as a response to cold temperatures.
Describe the characteristics of the epimysium.
The epimysium is a tough, dense, fibrous, irregular connective tissue that forms the outermost layer of muscle tissue covering.
What is the role of fascicles within a muscle?
Fascicles are bundles of muscle fibers found within the muscle belly.
Explain the function of the perimysium and its relationship to the epimysium.
The perimysium is a dense, fibrous, irregular connective tissue that covers groups of fascicles and is a direct continuation of the epimysium.
How are individual muscle cells organized within fascicle bundles?
Muscle fibers (cells) make up the fascicle bundles within a muscle.
What is the composition of the endomysium, and what does it cover?
The endomysium is made up of areolar connective tissue and covers the plasma membrane (sarcolemma) of individual muscle cells within a fascicle.
Describe the characteristics of tendons.
Tendons are rope-like connective tissues rich in collagen, connecting muscles to bones.
How does aponeurosis differ from tendons in connecting muscles to bones?
Aponeurosis is a sheet-like connective tissue that also connects muscles to bones.
During a muscle contraction, what is the “origin” of the bone, and what is the “insertion”?
. During a muscle contraction, the “origin” refers to the part of the bone that remains stationary, while the “insertion” is the part of the bone that moves. Tendons connect muscles to the bones at these respective points.
How is a tendon involved in connecting muscles to bones during movement?
Tendons play a critical role in connecting muscles to bones, allowing muscle contractions to move bones and perform various movements.
What do connective tissue sheaths contribute to?
Connective tissue sheaths contribute to elasticity.
How do connective tissue sheaths affect muscle elasticity?
Connective tissue sheaths enhance muscle elasticity.
What runs through the connective tissue sheaths in muscles?
Blood vessels and nerve fibers run through the connective tissue sheaths in muscles.
How do muscles connect to bones, and what are the two main types of connections described?
Muscles can connect to bones directly via the epimysium, periosteum, or perichondrium, or indirectly through tendons.
- What is the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle fibers?
The sarcoplasmic reticulum serves as a calcium storage and release system within muscle fibers.
Describe the appearance and characteristics of skeletal muscle fibers.
Skeletal muscle fibers are cylindrical, multinucleated, and excitable, contractile , exnsible and elastic
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of muscle: elasticity, contractility, excitable, or porous?
- d. Porous
True or False: Direct connections of muscle to bone are more common in the human body than indirect connections.
b. False
True or False: The origin of the muscle always moves toward the insertion of the same muscle during a muscle contraction.
b. False
What is the term for the outermost layer of connective tissue that covers a muscle?
c. Epimysium
What is the name of the rope-like connective tissue that helps connect muscles to bones?
b. Tendon
What is the outer covering of the muscle belly called, and what is it made of?
The outer covering of the muscle belly is called the epimysium, and it is made of dense fibrous irregular connective tissues.
What structures are found within the muscle belly?
Within the muscle belly, there are numerous fascicles.
Describe the composition and function of fascicles.
Fascicles are bundles of muscle fibers.
What covers the fascicles, and what is its composition?
Fascicles are covered by the perimysium, which is made of dense fibrous irregular connective tissues.
What makes up the structure of muscle fibers?
Muscle fibers are covered by the endomysium, which is made of areolar connective tissues.
What is the function of the endomysium, and what is its composition?
The endomysium’s function is to provide support and protection to individual muscle fibers.
What is the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle fibers?
The sarcoplasmic reticulum is the calcium storage factory within muscle fibers.
What is the striated appearance of muscle fibers due to?
The striated appearance of muscle fibers is due to the arrangement of myofibrils and sarcomeres.
What is a sarcomere and how does it relate to muscle fibers?
A sarcomere is the structural and functional unit of a muscle fiber, and it represents the connection between thin and thick fibers.
How would you describe the shape of muscle fibers?
Muscle fibers have a cylindrical shape.
What surrounds each muscle fiber, and what is its name?
Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma.
What composes myofibrils, and where are they found?
Myofibrils are contained within each muscle fiber.
What is the sarcomere, and what is its function?
The sarcomere is the functional unit of a myofibril responsible for muscle contraction.
How is the sarcomere’s length defined, and what is the distance between Z-discs in a sarcomere?
The sarcomere’s length is defined by the distance from one Z-disc to another Z-disc.
What is the composition and function of the Z-disk in the sarcomere?
The Z-disk in the sarcomere is composed of a filamentous protein called ?-actinin, and it attaches myofibrils to one another.
Describe the structure of the thick filament and its composition.
The thick filament in the sarcomere is composed of myosin filaments.
What is the role of titin in the sarcomere, and how does it stabilize the thick filament?
Titin anchors the thick filament to the Z-disc, stabilizes it, and maintains the side-by-side relationship between myosin and actin filaments.
Why is titin described as “springy”?
Titin is described as “springy” because it provides elasticity to the sarcomere.
What is the M-line in the sarcomere, and what proteins make it up?
The M-line runs in the middle of the sarcomere and is responsible for connecting and stabilizing the thick filament. It is made up of three proteins: Myomesin, C-proteins, and Creatine kinase.
What does the A-band represent in a sarcomere, and what filaments are found in it?
The A-band represents the dark band in a sarcomere and contains myosin filaments and ends of actin filaments where they overlap the myosin.
How is the A-band defined in terms of filament arrangement?
The A-band is defined as the distance from one end of the thick filament to the other end in the same sarcomere.
What does the I-band represent in a sarcomere, and what filaments are found in it?
The I-band represents the light band in a sarcomere( disttance between twon thick filaments) and consists of actin filaments.
How is the I-band defined in terms of filament arrangement?
The I-band is defined as the distance from one end of a thick filament to the other end of the adjacent thick filament.
How are thin filaments anchored in the sarcomere, and what is the primary protein in the thin filament?
Thin filaments are anchored to the Z-disk through the nebulin protein, and the primary protein in the thin filament is actin.
What is the H-zone, and where is it located in the sarcomere?
The H-zone is the distance between thin filaments in the same sarcomere.
What is the composition and function of the actin filament in the sarcomere?
The actin filament in the sarcomere is composed of two helical strands of F-actin molecules and two strands of tropomyosin molecules.
What are G-actin and F-actin, and how do they differ?
G-actin is the monomer of actin filaments, while F-actin represents polymers of G-actin.
What is the role of tropomyosin in the sarcomere, and how does it relate to myosin binding?
Tropomyosin surrounds and blocks the active sites of actin in a resting position, preventing myosin heads from binding.
What is the function of troponin, and what are its three subunits?
Troponin contains three active sites binding to actin, tropomyosin, and Ca2+ and has three subunits: Troponin C, Troponin T, and Troponin I.
How does troponin interact with Ca2+ to initiate the contraction process in muscle fibers?
Troponin interacts with Ca2+ by binding to Troponin C, which changes the shape of Troponin T and pulls on tropomyosin, opening up the active sites for myosin heads to bind.
Why is troponin clinically significant, particularly in the context of heart damage?
Elevated troponin levels are a marker for heart damage, and it may leak into the bloodstream.
What happens when troponin levels rise, and why is it used as a marker for heart damage, such as myocardial infarction?
When troponin levels rise, it is often indicative of myocardial infarction (heart attack). It is used as a diagnostic tool to assess heart muscle damage.
What is the composition of a myosin filament, and how many polypeptide chains does it consist of?
A myosin filament is composed of six polypeptide chains, including two heavy chains and four light chains.
How is myosin’s tail structured, and what does it connect to in the sarcomere?
Myosin’s tail is structured as an ?-helix composed of two heavy chains, and it connects to the thick filament in the sarcomere.
What is the structure of myosin’s head, and what is its role in muscle contraction?
Myosin’s head is a globular polypeptide structure made from bilateral folding of the ends of the heavy chains, and it plays a crucial role in muscle contraction.
How does myosin’s head contribute to the sliding of myofilaments in muscle contraction?
Myosin’s head binds to the actin active sites, allowing the sliding of myofilaments during muscle contraction.
What important enzymatic activity is found in myosin’s head?
Myosin’s head contains myosin ATPase, an enzyme that can cleave ATP to ADP and Pi, which is essential for myofilament sliding.
What is the function of myosin ATPase, and how does it relate to myofilament sliding?
Myosin ATPase’s function is to provide energy for the sliding of myofilaments by breaking down ATP.
What are the two types of light chains in myosin, and what are their respective roles?
Myosin has two types of light chains: the regulatory light chain (RLC) and the essential light chain (ELC).
What is the function of the regulatory light chain (RLC) in myosin?
The regulatory light chain (RLC) can phosphorylate and change the activity of the myosin, regulating muscle contraction.
What role does the essential light chain (ELC) play in the myosin molecule?
The essential light chain (ELC) structurally stabilizes the myosin head and neck, ensuring proper functioning.
How do individual myosin molecules combine to form a myosin filament?
Individual myosin molecules combine to form a myosin filament through their tails, which connect to the thick filament in the sarcomere.
What is the role of dystrophin in muscle structure, and how does it link actin in the sarcolemma?
Dystrophin links actin in the sarcolemma to the protein complex and subsequently connects to the extracellular matrix in muscle cells.
How does the protein complex connect to the extracellular matrix in muscle cells?
The protein complex connects to the extracellular matrix to provide structural integrity to muscle fibers.
What is the clinical significance of dystrophin, and how does a mutation in the dystrophin gene lead to muscular dystrophy?
Dystrophin has clinical significance because a mutation in the dystrophin gene can lead to muscular dystrophy, a group of genetic disorders causing muscle weakness and degeneration.