Muscle Physiology Flashcards
Types of Muscle
skeletal, smooth, and cardiac
Skeletal- movement
Smooth- autonomic functions
Cardiac- pumping blood
Flexion
decrease angle of a joint
Extension
increase angle of a joint
Size of muscle cells
several inches.
Another name for muscle cells
muscle fibers
Contents of muscle fibers
multiple nuclei and mitochondria
Sarcolemma
outer membrane of the muscle fiber. Equivalent to the plasma membrane of a regular cell
Sarcomere
contractile units that make up the myofibrils. Have discs at each end called Z disks
Troponin
protein that binds tropomyosin and actin. Has an affinity for calcium ions
Actin
thin protein filaments that attach to the z discs and extend toward the center. Intertwines with tropomyosin. Troponin bound intermittently
Myosin
thick filaments suspended among the actin. Resembles a golf club with globular heads that can bind ATP and actin
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum
surrounds the myofibrils in a reticulated network. Stores calcium during contraction
T tubules
invaginations of the sarcolemma that transverse the network of myofibrils similar to poking straws into a bowl of spaghetti noodles. Filled with extracellular fluid and aid with action potential depolarization
Sarcomere Organization
- Z-line
- I-band
- A-band
- H-zone
- M-line
Z line
forms periphery of sarcomere where thin actin filaments attach.
I band
light area, only actin
A band
dark area with actin and myosin overlapping
H zone
center light zone, only myosin
M line
middle of the myosin
Action Potential
- acetylcholine is released at the NMJ
- activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on sarcolemma
- Voltage gated Na ion channels open
- action potential spreads
- calcium released from sarcoplasmic reticulum
- contraction initiated
Other name for milk fever
parturient paresis
Milk Fever
state of semi-paralysis seen in dairy cows after calving. Fewer calcium ions are available at the NMJ and less acetylcholine is released from the axon end. Less acetylcholine means less depolarization of the sarcolemma
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
- increased calcium in sarcoplasm
- additional calcium binds troponin
- tropomysin moves deeper in groove- exposes myosin binding site on actin
Rigor Mortis
shortening of muscle fibers without an action potential. Actin and myosin remain contracted because there is not enough ATP to release the myosin head
Puerperal Tetany
hypocalcemia following whelping. Dogs differ from cows at the NMJ in that calcium deficiency causes voltage-gated Ca and Na to become more permeable to sodium. The influx of sodium make the membrane less polarized (less negative) and this means less stimulus is needed for depolarization. The nerve fibers become more excitable and discharge repetitively. This results in tetanic muscle contractions.
Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types
- Type I slow twitch
- Type II fast twitch
- intermediate fibers with characteristics of I and II
Type I Muscle Fibers
slow twitch. Darker color due to myoglobin. Rich blood supply. More mitochondria. More aerobic
Type II Muscle Fibers
Fast twitch. Larger fibers with expansive sarcoplasmic reticulum. Fewer mitochondria, less extensive blood supply, fatigue quickly.
Type IIA Muscle Fibers
intermediate between fast and slow twitch
Type IIB Muscle FIbers
traditional fast twitch fibers
Muscle Fibers in Dogs
Endurance athletes have more Type I muscle fibers, so a high capacity for aerobic metabolism. Dogs use fatty acids and glucose for fuel.
Motor Unit
one alpha motor neuron and all the striated muscle fibers it innervates. The muscle fibers are the same type and will contract at the same time.
How to increase contraction?
Spatial summation and temporal summation