Skeletal Muscle Physiology I Flashcards
What are the physiological functions of skeletal muscle?
Maintenance of posture, purposeful movement in relation to external environment, respiratory movements, heat production, contribution to whole body metabolism
What is the largest type of tissue in the body?
Muscle
What are the three kinds of muscle in the body?
Skeletal, cardiac, smooth
What can all three types of muscle do?
Capable of developing tension and producing movement through contraction
Are all muscle types striated?
No - skeletal and cardiac muscle are striated, smooth muscle is unstriated
What does striation look like under a light microscope?
Alternating dark (thick myosin) and light (thin actin) bands
What are skeletal muscles innervated by?
Somatic nervous system (subject to voluntary control)
What are cardiac and smooth muscle innervated by?
Autonomic nervous system (subject to involuntary control)
What are some features of skeletal muscle?
Neurogenic initiation of contraction, motor units, neuromuscular junction present, no gap junctions
How does excitation contraction coupling work in skeletal muscle?
Ca++ entirely from sarcoplasmic reticulum
How is gradation of contraction controlled in skeletal muscle?
By motor units and summation of contractions
What are some features of cardiac muscle?
Myogenic (pacemaker potential) initiation of contraction, no neuromuscular junction, gap junctions present
How does excitation contraction coupling work in cardiac muscle?
Ca++ from ECF and sarcoplasmic reticulum (ca++ induced Ca++ release)
How is gradation of contraction controlled in cardiac muscle?
Depends on the extent of heart filling with blood (preload)
Is there continuity of the cytoplasm between nerve and skeletal muscle cells?
No
What is the transmitter of neurogenic initiation of skeletal muscle contraction?
Acetylcholine at neuromuscular junction (stimulates alpha motor neuron)
How is skeletal muscle organised?
Organised into motor units = motor unit is a single alpha motor neuron and all the skeletal muscle fibre it innervates
What determines the number of muscle fibres per motor unit?
The functions served by the muscle = muscles which serve fine movements have fewer fibres per motor unit (about 10 per unit)
What does skeletal muscle consist of?
Parallel muscle fibres (skeletal muscle cells) bundled by connective tissue