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Sarcolemma - Cell Membrane
Sarcolemma - Cell Membrane
Sarcolemma - cell membrane Surrounds the sarcoplasm (cytoplasm of fiber) Contains many of the same organelles seen in other cells An abundance of the oxygen-binding protein myoglobin Punctuated by openings called the transverse tubules (T-tubules) Narrow tubes that extend into the sarcoplasm at right angles to the surface Filled with extracellular fluid Myofibrils -cylindrical structures within muscle fiber Are bundles of protein filaments (=myofilaments) Two types of myofilaments 1. Actin filaments (thin filaments) 2. Myosin filaments (thick filaments) At each end of the fiber, myofibrils are anchored to the inner surface of the sarcolemma When myofibril shortens, muscle shortens (contracts) Myofibrils surrounded by sarcoplasmic Reticulum, a calciumcontaining network of tubules
Figure 9.5
Two strands of fibrous (F) actin form a double helix extending the length of the myofilament; attached at either end at sarcomere. Composed of G actin monomers each of which has an active site Actin site can bind myosin during muscle contraction. Tropomyosin: an elongated protein winds along the groove of the F actin double helix. Troponin is composed of three subunits:
Tn-I site: binds to actin Tn-T site: binds to tropomyosin Tn-C site: binds to calcium ions
The tropomyosin/troponin complex regulates the interaction between active sites on G actin and myosin.
Many elongated myosin molecules shaped like golf clubs. Molecule consists of two heavy myosin molecules wound together to form a rod portion lying parallel to the myosin myofilament and two heads that extend laterally. Myosin heads 1. Can bind to active sites on the actin molecules to form cross-bridges. 2. Attached to the rod portion by a hinge region that can bend and straighten during contraction. 3. Have ATPase activity: activity that breaks down adenosine triphosphate (ATP), releasing energy. Part of the energy is used to bend the hinge region of the myosin molecule during contraction
Sarcomeres
Z disk: filamentous network of protein. Serves as attachment for actin myofilaments Striated appearance
I bands: from Z disks to ends of thick filaments A bands: length of thick filaments H zone: region in A band where actin and myosin do not overlap M line: middle of H zone; delicate filaments holding myosin in place
In muscle fibers, A and I bands of parallel myofibrils are aligned. Titin filaments: elastic chains of amino acids; make muscles extensible and elastic
Nerve-Muscle Relationships
Skeletal muscle must be stimulated by a motor neuron or it will not contract Cell bodies of somatic motor neurons in brainstem or spinal cord
Anterior horn motor neurons (AHMN)
Each motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates = motor unit
1.
Corticospinal tracts
1. 2. 3. 4. Location of UMN cell body in cerebral cortex Decussation of UMN axon in pyramids or at level of exit of LMN Synapse of UMN and LMN occurs in anterior horn of s.c. LMN axon exits via anterior root
2. 3. 4.
Motor Units
Def: A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates
Fibers aredispersed throughout the muscle When contracted together cause a weak contraction over wide area provides ability to sustain long-term contraction as motor units take turns resting (postural control)
Strength control
Gastrocnemius muscle has 1000-1500 muscle fibers per nerve fiber
Motor end plate: region of sarcolemma that abuts the synaptic knob; highly folded
increases surface area allowing for more ACh receptors contain acetylcholinesterase that breaks down ACh and causes relaxation
synaptic cleft = tiny gap between synaptic knob and sarcolemma of muscle fiber
Changes in the appearance of a Sarcomere during the Contraction of a Skeletal Muscle Fiber
Tension
Created when muscles contract Series of steps that begin with excitation at the neuromuscular junction
Calcium release Thick/thin filament interaction Muscle fiber contraction Tension
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
Thin filament
Thick filament
Rigor Mortis
Stiffening of the body beginning 3 to 4 hours after death Deteriorating sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium Calcium activates myosin-actin cross-bridging and muscle contracts, but can not relax. Muscle relaxation requires ATP and ATP production is no longer produced after death Fibers remain contracted until myofilaments decay
Overly contracted (weak contraction results) See Fig. 1 on left side on next slide thick filaments too close to Z discs and cant slide
Optimum resting length (Lo) produces greatest force when muscle contracts
Fig. 2 in center central nervous system maintains optimal length producing muscle tone or partial contraction
Muscle Twitch
A muscle twitch is the response of a muscle fiber to a single, brief threshold stimulus The three phases of a muscle twitch are:
Latent period (2 msec delay)
No visible contraction occurs; no tension developed Processes of excitation-contraction coupling occurring
Contraction phase
External tension develops as muscle shortens Not all skeletal muscle fibers have same contraction time Fast twitch fibers = 10 msec; Slow twitch fibers = 100 msec
Relaxation phase
Loss of tension and return to resting length as calcium returns to SR
Muscle Twitch
Threshold = voltage producing an action potential a single brief stimulus at that voltage produces a quick cycle of contraction and relaxation called a twitch (lasting less than 1/10 second = 100 msc) A single twitch contraction is not strong enough to do any useful work
Higher frequency stimulation (20-40 stimuli/second) generates gradually more strength of contraction (Fig A)
each stimuli arrives before last one recovers
temporal summation or wave summation
Motor Units
Def: A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates
Fibers are dispersed throughout the muscle Provides ability to sustain long-term contraction as motor units take turns resting (postural control)
Strength control
Gastrocnemius muscle has 1200-1500 muscle fibers per nerve fiber
Figure 10.17
Aerobic respiration
Requires oxygen and breaks down glucose to produce ATP, carbon dioxide and water Most efficient method Generates 36 ATP per glucose molecule
Figure 9.18
After 40 seconds of exercise, respiratory and cardiovascular systems must deliver enough oxygen for aerobic respiration
oxygen consumption rate increases for first 3-4 minutes and then levels off to a steady state
Limits are set by depletion of glycogen and blood glucose, loss of fluid and electrolytes
Fatigue
Progressive weakness from use
ATP synthesis declines as glycogen is consumed Sodium-potassium pumps fail to maintain membrane potential and excitability Lactic acid buildup inhibits enzyme function Accumulation of extracellular K+ hyperpolarizes the cell Motor nerve fibers use up their acetylcholine
Oxygen Debt
Vigorous exercise causes dramatic changes in muscle chemistry For a muscle to return to a resting state:
Oxygen reserves must be replenished Lactic acid must be converted to pyruvic acid Glycogen stores must be replaced ATP and CP reserves must be resynthesized
Oxygen debt the extra amount of O2 needed for the above restorative processes
Recovery period
Begins immediately after activity ends Oxygen debt (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption)
Amount of oxygen required during resting period to restore muscle to normal conditions
Endurance
Ability to maintain high-intensity exercise for >5 minutes: determined by
VO2 max or Maximal oxygen uptake
maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and utilize oxygen during incremental exercise Measured as the millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of bodyweight per minute (ml/kg/min) average young untrained male will have a VO2 max of approximately 3.5 litres/minute and 45 ml/kg/min
Miguel Indurain is reported to have had a VO2 max of 88.0 at his peak
average young untrained female will score a VO2 max of approximately 2.0 litres/minute and 38 ml/kg/min To calculate yours go to:
http://health.drgily.com/walking-test-peak-aerobic-capacity.php
Nutrient availability
2 cell types are differentiated on whether gene for a slow or fast myosin isoenzyme is expressed in the cell
i.e. cell will have a moderate or a high ATPase activity or recycling time
Muscle Performance:
Types of skeletal muscle fibers
Slow-twitch or high-oxidative Contract more slowly Moderate power output Consume ATP at moderate rates High capillary density (rich blood supply) More mitochondria Smaller in diameter
Minimize diffusion distances for oxygen and nutrients
Postural muscles, more in lower than upper limbs. Dark meat of chicken.
size of motor units and motor unit recruitment length of muscle at start of contraction
Smooth Muscle
Composed of spindle-shaped fibers with a diameter of 2-10 m and lengths of several hundred m Often organized into two layers (longitudinal and circular) of closely apposed fibers Found in walls of hollow organs (except the heart)
There are no visible striations and no sarcomeres Thin and thick filaments are present
Figure 9.26
Autonomic nerve fibers have beadlike swellings called varicosities containing synaptic vesicles
stimulates multiple myocytes at diffuse junctions
Figure 9.25
Contraction Mechanism
Actin and myosin interact according to the sliding filament mechanism The final trigger for contractions is a rise in intracellular Ca2+ Ca2+ is released from the SR and from the extracellular space Ca2+ interacts with calmodulin and myosin light chain kinase to activate myosin
Response to Stretch
Smooth muscle exhibits a phenomenon called stress-relaxation response in which:
Smooth muscle responds to stretch only briefly, and then adapts to its new length The new length, however, retains its ability to contract This enables organs such as the stomach and bladder to temporarily store contents
Hyperplasia
Certain smooth muscles can divide and increase their numbers by undergoing hyperplasia This is shown by estrogens effect on the uterus
At puberty, estrogen stimulates the synthesis of more smooth muscle, causing the uterus to grow to adult size During pregnancy, estrogen stimulates uterine growth to accommodate the increasing size of the growing fetus
Multi-unit smooth muscle cells are innervated by more than one motor neuron