Pearson Review Muscle Physiology Flashcards
Which of the following is/are mechanism(s) to end neural transmission at the neuromuscular junction?
ACh is broken down into acetic acid and choline by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
ACh binds to ACh receptors.
ACh is taken up by the axon terminal via endocytosis.
ACh diffuses away from the synaptic cleft.
ACh is broken down into acetic acid and choline by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
ACh diffuses away from the synaptic cleft.
The cross bridge cycle starts when _________.
Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum binds to troponin.
The cross bridge cycle is a series of molecular events that occur after excitation of the sarcolemma. What is a cross bridge?
A myosin head bound to actin
What structure is the functional unit of contraction in a skeletal muscle fiber?
The sarcomere
Calcium ions couple excitation of a skeletal muscle fiber to contraction of the fiber. Where are calcium ions stored within the fiber?
Calcium ions are stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
After a power stroke, the myosin head must detach from actin before another power stroke can occur. What causes cross-bridge detachment?
ATP binds to the myosin head.
How does the myosin head obtain the energy required for activation?
The energy comes from the hydrolysis of ATP.
What specific event triggers the uncovering of the myosin-binding site on actin?
Calcium ions bind to troponin and change its shape
When does cross-bridge cycling end?
Cross bridge cycling ends when sufficient calcium has been actively transported back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum to allow calcium to unbind from troponin.
The narrow space between the axon terminal and the motor end plate is called the:
synaptic cleft
Stimulation of acetylcholine (ACh) receptors by ACh will primarily result in
sodium ions entering the muscle fiber.
The end-plate potential is:
a depolarization caused by sodium ion movement into the cytosol.
The neurons of patients with multiple sclerosis are unable to transmit action potentials down the axon. How will that affect skeletal muscle stimulation?
The muscle will not be stimulated and, therefore will not contract
The active ingredient of Botox, botulinum toxin, blocks the release of ACh from the axon terminal. An overdose of Botox will most likely result in:
Muscle paralysis at the site of injection.
Excitation-contraction coupling is a series of events that occur after the events of the neuromuscular junction have transpired. Which step in the process does the term excitation refer to?
Excitation, in this case, refers to the propagation of action potentials along the sarcolemma.
Excitation of the sarcolemma is coupled or linked to the contraction of a skeletal muscle fiber. What specific event initiates the contraction?
Calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum initiates the contraction.
A triad is composed of a T-tubule and two adjacent terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. How are these components connected?
A series of proteins that control calcium release.
What is name given to the regularly spaced infoldings of the sarcolemma?
transverse or T tubules
What is most directly responsible for the coupling of excitation to contraction of skeletal muscle fibers?
Calcium ions
What is the relationship between the number of motor neurons recruited and the number of skeletal muscle fibers innervated?
Typically, hundreds of skeletal muscle fibers are innervated by a single motor neuron.
Inadequate calcium in the neuromuscular junction would directly affect which of the following processes?
Release of acetylcholine from the synaptic vesicles
What structure most directly stimulates a skeletal muscle fiber to contract?
Motor neuron
: membranous sac located in the axon terminal that contains neurotransmitter.
Synaptic Vesicle
the space between the axon terminal and junctional folds.
Synaptic Cleft
a type of chemically-gated ion channel located on the junctional folds of the muscle fiber.
Acetylcholine Receptor
a type of voltage-gated ion channel located on the axon terminal.
Calcium Channel
neurotransmitter that stimulates skeletal muscle contraction.
Acetylcholine
: a type of voltage-gated ion channel located on the sarcolemma of the muscle fiber.
Sodium Channel
enzyme located in the synaptic cleft that breaks down acetylcholine.
Acetylcholinesterase
Rank the sequence of events at the NMJ that initiate an action potential in the muscle fiber, from first to last.
Step 1: Action potential arrives at the axon terminal.
Step 2: Calcium Ions enter the Axon Terminal.
Step 3: Synaptic Vesicles fuse to membrane of Axon Terminal.
Step 4: Acetylcholine is released into the Synaptic Cleft.
Step 5: Acetylcholine binds to its receptors on the Junctional Folds.
Step 6: Junctional Folds become Depolarized.
Step 7: Action Potential is initiated on the Sarcolemma.
If the cytosol loses K+ ions through leak channels, it will become:
More negative.