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Physiology of Musle
Physiology of Musle
Physiology of Musle
Smooth muscle are present in the walls of digestive organs (e.g. esophagus, stomach), urinary bladder,
ureter etc. their movements cannot be controlled by will.
Cardiac muscle occurs in the heart. The movements of these muscle also cannot be controlled by will.
Skeletal muscle is attached to the skeleton. The movement of skeletal muscles can be controlled by will.
Structure of a skeletal muscle.: Skeletal muscles are composed of a large number of muscle fibers. Each
muscle fibers has one or more nuclei which lie in the periphery. The cytoplasm of the muscle cell is
called as sarcoplasm.
Myofibrils are very smembrane of the all parallel filaments which lie in the cytoplasm. The membrane of
the muscle fibre is calles as sarcolemma. Each muscle fibre is embedded in a connective tissue called
endomysium. The fibres with in musle are arranged in bundles. Each bundle is each bundles is enclosed
in a sheath called perimysium.
Neuromuscular junction (Myoneural Junction): It is the junction between a nerve ending and the
skeletal muscle. At this site, the nerve loose its myelin sheath and gets expanded. Acetylcholine is stored
in some vescicles present in this expanded portion . motor and plate is the part of the muscle facing the
expanded nerve terminal. The surface of motor end plate is convoluted and it has the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase.
1. excitability and irritability: It is the property of a muscle to respond to a stimulus. If the response to
occurs in the form of contraction, it is called as contractility.
2. Tonicity:Muscles of a living organism are in partially contracted state ,even at rest.They are never
fully relaxed and they will resist being stretched.The resistance to stretch is called as tonicity.
3.All or none response:When a stimulus is given to a muscle either contracts to the maximum or ii)it
does not contract at all.
When a week stimulus is applied to a muscle,it does not produce any response.But when the stimulus is
gradually increased ,the muscle level.Later,even a greater degree of stimulus does not increase the
degree of contraction.
4.Summation:When a second stimulus is given to a muscle even while it is contracting due to the first
stimulus,the degree of contraction is more.This phenomenon is called as summation.The increased
response is due to stimulation of more and more motor units by repetitive stimuli.
7.Refractory period:It is a period when the muscle looses its excitability.During refractory period ,the
muscle does not respond to any stimulus ,however strong it may be.
8.Isotonic contraction:It is the contraction in which the muscle shortens under constant load.It occurs in
muscles during walking,running or lifting.
9.Isomertic contraction:In this type of contraction,the muscle develops tension but it does not shorten
in length eg.maintaining the posture against gravity.
10.Fatigue:It is a state of reduced excitability and contractility of a muscle. It is produced by rapid and
repeated stimulation of the muscle.Fatigue mat occur due to depletion of energy and accumulation of
metabolites like lactic acid.
1.During normal resting state of a muscle,the muscle membrane is in a polarised state.This occurs
because:
a)The interior of the muscle cell is negatively charged.It contains a large concentration of K+ IONS.
b)The exterior of the muscle cell is postivively charged.It contains a large concentration of Na+ ions.
5.Now ,K+ ions move into the cell and Na+ ions out of the cell.This produces repolarisation of the muscle
membrane.Now the muscle is ready for a second contraction.
Energy for muscle contraction: Actin and myosin are the two important muscle proteins. They form the
contractile elements of a muscle. Muscle contraction is produced by the contraction of actin filaments
over the stationary myosin filaments. The energy for muscle contraction is provided as follows:
1. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is broken down by the enzyme ATPase . Th librates adenosine
diphosphate (ADP)and also phosphate bond energy which is utilized for muscle contraction.
Creatinine ter re+ Posphate (librated from the above ractio)- Creatinine phosphate
All these three reaction occur in the muscle. These reatction do not require oxygen.
About one fifth of the Lactic acid produced from glycogen isoxidised to carbondioxide and water . The
remaining is converted to glycogen and stored in liver, muscles and other tissue.
Oxygen debt: the reaction leading to 1) the break down of ATP 2) regenartion of ATP and 3) break down
of glycogen to form acid do not require oxygen. But the oxidation of lactic acid to carbondioxide and
water quires oxygen.
During very severe exercise, energy is supplied by the breakdown of ATP. Also, ATP is continuously
regenerated. But lactic acid accumulates faster. For metabolizing this, more and extra oxygen is
required. The extra requirement of oxygen is called oxygen debt. So the oxygen consumption after a
severe exercise is much higher.
Heat production: heat production during muscle contraction. Heat produced by muscle is of two types:
1. Contraction Heat: during isometic contraction of a muscle, no work is performed. so the energy of
chemical reaction appeared as heat. The contraction heat is generated in the absence of oxygen .
2. Recovery Heat: this occurs after contraction and relaxation is over. It occurs due to the oxidation of
lactic acid recovery heat is produced only in presence only in presence of oxygen.