Muscle Physiology Flashcards
What are the 3 types of multicellular muscle?
Skeletal
Cardiac
Smooth
Where can you find single cell units of muscle?
Myoepithelial cells - around acini of exocrine glands
Pericytes - surround blood vessels
Myofibroblasts - secrete collagen, contraction, key for wound healing
What are the 3 layers of supporting tissue in muscles?
Endomysium: surrounds individual muscle fibres
Perimysium: surrounds fascicles
Epimysium: surrounds the muscle as a whole
How is force generated in muscle cells transmitted to the surrounding tissue?
Muscle cells surrounded by an external lamina
Internal contractile proteins transmit force to link proteins including dystrophin
Link proteins span plasma membrane, transmit force to external lamina
External lamina of muscle cells binds myocytes into a functional unit
What are 3 disease types that affect muscles?
Neurogenic
Myopathies
Disorders of neuromuscular transmission
Describe the structure of skeletal muscle cells
Range of cell lengths
Long parallel cylinders, multiple peripheral nuclei, striated
Fascicle bundle, tendon attachments
Rapid forceful contractions
Describe the structure of cardiac muscle cells
Short cell lengths
Branched cylinders, single central nucleus, striated
Junctions join cells end to end
Lifelong variable rhythm
Describe the structure of smooth muscle cells
Spindle shaped, tapering ends, single central nucleus
Connective tissue, gap and desmosome junctions
Involuntary slow, sustained or rhythmic
What is a motor unit?
Individual motor nerves supplying a group of myocytes
Which cells in muscle can undergo mitosis?
Satellite cells (stem cells) can undergo mitosis after myocyte damage
How many capillaries are associated with each muscle fibre?
1-3 which reflects high energy requirements of the tissue
What are the 3 types of muscle fibres?
Type 1/slow twitch/red- aerobic metabolism e.g. posture
Abundant mitochondria and myoglobin, small size, fatigue resistant, recruited early, low SERCA activity, fine movement
Type 2/ fast twitch/white- anaerobic metabolism e.g. eye muscle, triceps, biceps
Few mitochondria, sparse myoglobin, abundant glycogen and glycolytic enzymes, large size, easily fatigued, recruited late, high SERCA activity, large force
Intermediate fibres
Most muscles contain a mixture of all three types (a checkerboard)
What does the supporting tissue of muscle carry and what are its components?
Carry: neurovascular bundles
Components: mainly fibroblasts and fibres (collagen and elastin)
How do muscle fascicle sizes vary?
Fine, highly controlled movements require small fasciculi
Gross movements can be achieved with large fasciculi
Size reflects function of the muscle
Why is skeletal muscle striated?
Myofibrils are arranged in register with each other
Held in place by z discs for actin and M lines for myosin