Week 3 Flashcards
What does syncytium mean
A multinucleate mass of cytoplasm resulting from fusion of cells
In skeletal muscles
What are intercalated discs
Join adjacent cardiac muscle cells together
What shape are smooth muscle nuclei
Spindle shaped
What is the sarcolemma
The plasma membrane of the muscle cell
What’s a myofibril
A chain of sarcomeres
What’s a myofilament
Contain the actin and myosin myofilaments
What is a sarcomere
The contractile unit
What is a triad
A special internal membrane system that controls muscle contraction by regulating calcium release
How does the skeletal muscle triad work
The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ channel protein lines up with the Ca2+ channel protein in the t-tubular system
Depolarisation of the t-tubular system causes opening of the SR calcium channels
Calcium which is held in the SR lumen by calsequestrin (calcium binding protein) can then be released into the muscle cytoplasm (cytosol/sarcoplasm)
What are the 3 major types of skeletal muscle fibres
Red fibres
Intermediate red
White
What are red fibres
Contract slowly, do not fatigue quickly, low glucose metabolism
Red colour from high levels of myoglobin
Maintenance of posture e.g. back muscles
What are intermediate red fibres
A combination of red and white fibre characteristics
Contract quickly intermediate rate of fatigue and glucose metabolism
Seen in big leg muscles
What are white fibres
Responsible for rapid contraction
Contract quickly and fatigue quickly, high glucose metabolism (including anaerobic)
Little myoglobin content
Seen in muscles that move the eye
Why is the motor system of the body important
Set muscle (or motor) tone of the body
Bring about voluntary movements
What is a motor unit
Defined as a somatic efferent plus all the muscle fibres it supplies
The combination of an individual motor neuron and all off the muscle fibres it innervates