Muscles Flashcards
Organisation of muscles
Muscle -> fibre cells -> myofibrils -> 12-18m thick and 5-8mm thin filaments -> myosin and actin
Functions of a contracting tissue allow
Movement of whole/part of body/to manipulate objects
Propel contents through various hollow tubes
Empty contents of certain organs into external environment
Organisation of skeletal muscle
Fibres lie parallel - connect tissue
Single skeletal muscle cell = fibre - multinucleate, large, elongated, cylindrically shapes, extend entire muscle length
Myofibrils are contractile elements of fibre - regular thick (myosin) and thin (acton) filaments, striations
SKM CM striated, SM unstriated
SKM voluntary, CM SM involuntary
Sarcomere
Functional unit of skeletal muscle - 2 Z lines
A band
Dark, thick filaments (and overlapping thin)
H zone
Middle of H band without thin filaments
M line
Vertically down A band - mid H zone
I band
Light, thin filaments not n A band
Titin
Large, elastic protein extending from M line along thick filament to Z lines. Helps to stabilise site of thick filaments in relation to thin filaments. Increases muscles elasticity like a spring
Myosin
Contractile protein forming this filaments
2 identical tail ends wrapped around each other towards centre
2 identical globular heads project at one end and point outwards, forming cross bridges between thick and thin filaments
Cross-bridge has actin-binding site and myosin ATPase site
Actin
Contractile protein forming thin filaments
Spherical molecules with specific binding sites for myosin heads
Regulatory proteins also involved
Tropomyosin
Regulatory proteins - thread-like molecule lying end to end alongside groove of actin spiral covering actin sites
Troponin
Regulatory protein - 3 pp units Troponin C, I and T
Stabilises tropomyosin in blocking myosin binding sites. When Ca2+ bound, tropomyosin moves away -> cross-bridges and contraction
Muscle contraction
Sliding filament mechanism
Ca2+ released into sarcoplasm from SR
Myosin heads bind to actin and swivel and bend towards centre of sarcomere by a power stroke
ATP ends to myosin head and detaches from actin
Hydrolysis of ATP transfers energy to myosin head to reorient it
Contraction continues if Ca2+ high and ATP available
Causes thin filaments to slide inwards over stationary thick filaments towards middle if A band and pull Z lines closer
Sarcomeres shorten
Neuromuscular junction
Presynaptic motor neutrons and post synaptic muscle fibre
Release of Ach stimulus for contraction
SR and transverse tubules link excitation to contraction
SR fine network interconnected compartments surrounding and segments wrapped around A and I bands - terminal cisternae
T tubules are membranous perpendicular extensions of surface membrane from surface of muscle cell to central portions of muscle fibre. AP on surface membrane spreads into T-tubule - release of Ca2+ from SR into cytosol -> dihydropyridine receptors
Skeletal muscles
Groups of fibres bundled together and attached to bones
Connective tissue divided into bundles - extends beyond ends -> tendons
Contraction strength depends on number of muscle fibres and tension by each contacting fibre and motor units