Muscle Contraction and Contractility Flashcards
Heart chamber cartoon
Circulation map
Isovolumic contraction
The interval between the closing of the atrioventricular or AV (mitral and tricuspid) valves and the opening of the semilunar (aortic and pulmonic) valves. Isovolumetric contraction occurs when the AV valves have closed, the ventricle is contracting and the semilunar valves have not yet opened
S1 vs S2
S1: Closing of the cuspid valves
S2: Closing of the semilunar valves
Wigger’s Diagram
What controls the closing of the AV valves and opening of the semilunar valves?
Pressures rise in the left and right ventricles as blood flows into them from the left and right atria; as soon as ventricular pressure exceeds atrial the AV valves close. Once left ventricular pressure reaches aortic pressure, the aortic valve opens.
Ejection phase
Opening of the semilunar valves (pulmonic and aortic) marks the onset of the ejection phase. Blood is ejected into the aorta from the left ventricle (and into the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle). Not all the blood is ejected into the aorta (or pulmonary artery), normally about 55-65% of the blood is ejected (ejection fraction).
The volume of blood ejected is known as the stroke volume and the amount of blood in the ventricle at the end of systole is the endsystolic volume (ESV).
Calculating ejection fraction
Pend diastolic - Pend systolic
_________________________
Pend diastolic
rapid ejection phase
The initial period of ejection phase, when the rate at which the blood is ejected into the aorta exceeds the rate at which it flows into its branches.
reduced ejection phase
The latter part of systole, when blood flow into the periphery via arteries and arterioles exceeds the flow into the aorta from the ventricle causing a fall in pressure
Isovolumic relaxation
As the ventricle relaxes, left ventricular pressure falls below aortic pressure and the aortic valve closes. Closure of the valve causes the incisura on the descending limb of the aortic pressure curve (looks like a little bump on the pressure curve). Closure of the aortic valve produces the second heart sound. The time from when the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic) close and the AV valves (mitral and tricuspid) are open is termed isovolumic relaxation
Rapid ventricular refilling
As ventricular pressure falls below atrial pressure, the AV valve opens. There is a rapid flow of blood from the atria into the ventricle
Diastasis
As the ventricle fills, the pressures in the atrium and ventricle equalize and further flow from the atrium (filling of the ventricle) virtually stops
Atrial systole
At the end of ventricular diastole the atrium contracts and ejects blood to complete ventricular filling
The volume of blood at the end of diastole is called the ___ and the pressure is the ___.
The volume of blood at the end of diastole is called the end-diastolic volume (EDV) and the pressure is the end-diastolic pressure (EDP).
Venous pressure tracing: A waves, C waves, V waves
A wave: Represents pressure generated by atrial contraction during the end of ventricular diastole
C wave: Pressure wave transmitted by closed tricuspid or mitral valve during the initial part of ventricular contraction (as the ventricle begins to contract, the leaflets bulge toward the atrium causing the slight increase in pressure called the C wave)
V wave: Increasing pressure in the atrium as the atrium fills from blood returning from the inferior and superior vena cava (right atrium) or pulmonary veins (left atrium) during right or left ventricular contraction, respectively
There is decrease in peak rate of ___ between the ages of 20 and 80
There is decrease in peak rate of early diastolic filling between the ages of 20 and 80
This probably relates to stiffening / reduced compliance of the ventricle with age, which results in higher ventricular pressures as the ventricle fills.
Atrial Kick
Since volumetric filling of the ventricle during diastole is reduced with age (due to reduced ventricular compliance), older people are more denepdent upon atrial contraction for ventricular filling
Ryanodine receptors are contained within. . .
. . . the subsarcolemmal cisternae
The sarcotubular network is lined with. . .
. . . calcium re-uptake channels
Basic myocardial excitation-contraction coupling
- Action Potential
- Influx of Ca++ through L-type channels of sarcolemma (T-tubules)
- Ca++ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (calcium triggers ryanodine receptors on SR to release calcium: calcium induced calcium release)
- Increased binding of Ca++ to troponin C
- Actin/myosin cross bridging
Relaxation of cardiac muscle requires. . .
. . . energy! The calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum must be re-uptaken by active transport.
Basic myocardial relaxation
- Increased SR uptake of Ca++ and eflux of Ca++into extracellular space (3 mechanisms)
- SR Ca++ -ATPase (SERCA)
- Sarcolemma Ca++ ATPase
- Na-Ca++ Exchanger
- Decreased Ca++ binding of troponin C
- Tropomyosin blocks actin binding site
- Actin-myosin relaxation
Isometric Contraction
If an isolated muscle strip is stretched and anchored between two rigid points and is then stimulated electrically, it produces tension (force) without muscle shortening. Contraction with the muscle staying at a constant length is called an isometric contraction (force increases; muscle length stays the same).
Isotonic Contraction
If an isolated muscle strip anchored on one end and connected to a weight on other end, it will shorten under constant tension; this is called isotonic contraction (force constant; muscle length decreases)
Muscle ‘performance’
The performance of an isolated cardiac muscle strip is characterized in terms of tension development and changes in length (shortening). Whereas the intact heart (a three dimensional structure comprising many myocytes linked together) generates pressure and has changes in volume
The longer the sarcomere or a muscle, . . .
The longer the sarcomere or a muscle, the more tension that is developed.
This is because:
- More favorable actin-myosin cross bridge interactions
- Length dependent release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
- Increased affinity of calcium for troponin
Lmax
The length at which maximal tension is generated in a muscle
If stretched beyond this point, tension declines.
Molecular explanation for Lmax
Inspiratory muscles are longer at ___.
Expiratory muscles are longer at ___.
Inspiratory muscles are longer at low lung volume.
Expiratory muscles are longer at high lung volume.