Muscles Flashcards
What are the functions of muscles?
Produce movement
Stabilise body positions
Store and move substances (myocardium)
Generate heat
What is thermogenesis?
The process of generating heat as a result of muscle contraction
What is the importance of thermogenesis?
Maintain body temperature
What are the key properties of muscle tissue?
Electrical excitability
Contractility
Extensibility
Elasticity
Explain the muscle property of electrical excitability:
Respond to electrical stimuli (action potentials) cause contraction of the muscle
Explain the muscle property of contractility:
The muscles have the ability to shorten creating tension causing movement
Explain the muscle property of extensibility:
Myocardium and smooth muscle can relax and extend when required
Explain the muscle property of elasticity:
Muscles can return to their original position after stretching
What are the different types of muscle tissue?
Cardiac
Smooth
Skeletal
Where is smooth muscle located?
Within the walls of hollow internal organs, e.g. blood vessels, airways and abdominal organs
Smooth muscle is non-striated, what does this mean?
There is no specific tissue pattern
Smooth muscle is non-voluntary, what does this mean?
It is innervated by neurons in the autonomic nervous system so muscle contraction is non voluntary
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to voluntary contraction:
Cardiac = involuntary Smooth = involuntary Skeletal = voluntary
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to striation:
Cardiac = striated Smooth = non-striated Skeletal = striated
Where is cardiac muscle tissue found?
Only in the heart, especially the walls of the heart
Cardiac muscle is striated, what does this mean?
The muscle proteins are formed in well organised bundles (sarcomeres)
Cardiac muscle is involuntary, what does this mean?
The muscle is stimulated by the Sinoatrial node which creates the action potential for contraction to begin
Where are Intercalated discs found and what is their function?
Found in cardiac muscle, they aid in transmitting action potentials through myocardium to increase contraction
Skeletal muscle is striated, what does this mean?
The muscle proteins are formed in an organised fashion, through alternating dark and white bands
Skeletal muscle is voluntary, what does this mean?
Contraction is controlled by neurons as part of the somatic nervous system (although most contractions are subconscious)
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to contraction speed:
Cardiac = moderate Smooth = slow Skeletal = fast
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to size:
Cardiac = Large Smooth = Small Skeletal = Very large
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to regulator proteins for contraction:
Cardiac = Troponin and Tropomyosin Smooth = Calmodulin and Myosin Skeletal = Troponin and Tropomyosin
Compare / Contrast the 3 muscle types in relation to autorhythmicity:
Cardiac = Yes Smooth = Yes Skeletal = No
What is a sarcolemma?
An excitable plasma membrane surrounding a muscle fiber
What is sarcoplasm?
The cytoplasm of the muscle fiber
Where is the sarcoplasm found?
Within the sarcolemma
What substances are found within sarcoplasm which aid muscular contraction?
Glycogen (for ATP)
Myoglobin (O2 receiver)
What is the function of mitochondria in muscle fibers?
They breakdown glycogen into ATP
Many myofibers combine to form a _____:
Muscle fiber
What are sarcomeres?
The smallest component of a myofiber
What are the main contractile proteins of a myofiber?
Myosin (thick filament)
Actin (thin filament)
What is the M line?
The middle of a sarcomere
What is the Z disc?
The end of a sarcomere
What is the A band?
The middle of the sarcomere extending the entire length of the thick filament (myosin), including overlap
What is the H zone?
The area of sarcomere where there is thick filament (myosin) only, so not the overlap area
In relation to M and Z, what happens during muscle contraction?
Z discs are pulled towards the M line, shortening the sarcomere
What is the I band?
The area of sarcomere where there is thin filament (actin) only, so not the overlap area
In a myofiber, what is the name for the protein in the THIN filament?
Actin
Which protein moves the Z disc towards the M line?
Actin (thin filament)