Muscle Flashcards
Function of skeletal muscle
Controls inspiration by contraction of the diaphragm
Skeletal muscle pump
Structure of skeletal muscle
Myofilaments ->
Myofibril ->
Muscle cell/fiber ->
Muscle (fascicle)
What is a sarcomere?
An individual unit of myofibrils
Appearance of a muscle cell
Striated due to organisation of sarcomeres
How does muscle contraction occur?
Myosin heads interact with actin to allow for muscle contraction
Where do actin project from?
Z disc
What is the I band?
Light
Actin fibres
Gets smaller as the muscle contracts
What is the A band?
Dark
Actin and myosin heads overlap here
How is a contraction initiated?
Acetylcholine is released and an action potential occurs in the plasma membrane of the muscle fibre ->
A wave of depolarisation goes through the sarcomere, through the t tubule and into the cell interior ->
Depolarisation triggers the release of intracellular calcium
Describe the contraction of a sarcomere
- ATP binds to myosin head, actin-myosin dissociates
- ATP is hydrolysed, myosin heads return to resting
- A cross bridge forms, myosin head binds to new position on actin
- Pi is released
- A conformational change in the myosin head causes a power stroke, filaments slide past each other
- ADP is released
Name the stages of actin-myosin cross bridge formation
Attached state
Released state
Cocked state
Weak cross bridge state
Strong cross bridge state
Post powerstroke state
How many myosin heads are in a thick filament?
300 approx
What are the 3 classes of muscle fibres?
Slow oxidative
Fast oxidative
Fast glycolytic
Which classes of muscle fibre are resistant to fatigue?
Slow oxidative
Fast oxidative
What colour is a fast glycolytic muscle fibre?
White
Example of slow oxidative muscle
Soleus
Example of slow oxidative muscle
Soleus
Example of fast oxidative muscle
Gastrocnemius
Example of fast glycolytic muscle
Biceps brachii
How long does a fast muscle fibre take to contract?
10msec or less
Mechanism of botulinum toxin
Muscle weakness/paralysis leading to death
Symptoms of botulinum toxin
- dry mouth and double vision
- GI issues
- paralysis of limbs and respiratory muscles
Name 3 clinical uses of botulinum toxin
Treatment of strabismus
Blepharospasm
Cosmetic treatments (botox)