The Muscular System
Feb 23, 2016
The Muscular System
*The sole function of muscle tissue is to contract or shorten.
As it contracts it -causes movement-maintains posture-stabilizes joints-and generates heat.
Muscle Types Skeletal muscle (voluntary)
muscle attached to the skeleton cells are long, striated, and multinucleate Connective tissue coverings (endomysium, perimysium,
and epimysium) enclose and protect the muscle fibers and increase the strength of skeletal muscles.
Smooth muscle (involuntary) cells are uninucleate, spindle-shaped, and arranged in
opposing layers in the walls of hollow organs. Cardiac muscle (involuntary)
cells are striated, branching and fit closely together arranged in spiral bundles in the heart.
Skeletal Muscle
Connective Tissue Wrappings*endomysium: forms a sheath around a fiber
*perimysium: coarse membrane that surrounds several sheathed fibers
*fascicle: bundle of fibers covered in perimysium
*epimysium: tough overcoat that surrounds several fascicles that make a muscle
Attachment
Skeletal muscles attach to bone using tendons or aponeuroses. Tendons: stong, cord-like structures▪ Can cross bony projections▪ Used to stabilize joints
Aponeuroses: sheet-like structures that attach muscle indirectly
Microscopic Anatomy
•sarcolema- plasma membrane that serves as the “muscle husk”•myofibrils- long ribbon-like organelles which nearly fill the cytoplasm.
•Alternating light (I) and dark (A) bands give the striped appearance.•Midsection of the light band is the Z disc•Midsection of the dark band is the H zone
Microscopic Anatomy, Cont.
•sarcomere- unit of a myofibrile that stretches from one Z to the next Z.•Myofilaments- threadlike protein structures within the sarcomere
•Myosin- thick fibers that split ATP to generate power.
•Heads or cross bridges link filaments during contraction.
•Actin- thin fibers that are anchored to the Z disc
Microscopic Physiology
During contraction: Myosin heads pull
on actin filaments. Actin filaments slide
toward the center of the sarcomere.
Light zones disappear.
Skeletal Muscle Activity
Special functional properties: Irritability
Ability to receive and respond to stimuli
Contractility Ability to forcibly shorten
Nerves and muscles: Motor unit: one
neuron and all muscle it stimulates.
Neuromuscular junction: where nerve fiber ends (axon terminals) at skeletal muscle.
Synaptic cleft: gap between axon terminals and sarcolema.
How it works: Nerve impulse to axon Chemical release of
neurotransmitter. ACh crosses synaptic
cleft and attaches to receptors.
Muscle becomes permeable to Na+.
Inward rush of Na generates electrical impulse, Action Potential.
AP travels over muscle causing contraction.
Energy for Muscle Contractions Direct phosphorolation of ADP by
creatine phosphate. ATP transfer of phosphate group
from CP to ADP ATP Lasts about 20 seconds. (makes 1 ATP)
Aerobic Respiration C6H12O6 CO2 + H2O + energy (ATP) Yields 36 ATP. Requires oxygen.
Energy for Muscle Contractions, Cont. Anaerobic Glycolysis and lactic acid
formation. Glucose pyruvic acid + 2 ATP Without oxygen, pyruvic acid converts to
lactic acid. Fast process. Good for 30-60 seconds of
energy. Lactic acid accumulation causes muscle
fatigue and soreness.
Skeletal Muscle MovementsTypes and Names
Attachment of skeletal muscles Origin
Attachment to the immovable or less movable bone
Insertion attachment to the movable bone
**When a muscle contracts, the insertion moves toward the origin.
Example:
During contraction of the biceps, the insertion moves toward the origin.
Flexion Movement that
decreases the angle of a joint.
Bringing two bones closer together
Extension Increases the
distance or angle between two bones.
If extension is >180 degrees, it is called hyperextension.
Rotation Movement of a
bone around its longitudinal axis.▪ Lateral: away
from midline▪ Medial: toward
midline
Abduction away from
central axis of the body
Adduction closer to central
axis of the body
Circumduction Common in ball and
socket joints Proximal end of
limb is stationary while distal end moves in a circle.
Special Movements
SPECIAL MOVEMENTS OF THE FOOT.
UP AND DOWN MOVEMENTS AT THE ANKLE.
Special Movements, cont.MOVEMENTS OF THE RADIUS AROUND THE ULNA.
MOVEMENT OF THE THUMB.
Types of Skeletal Muscles
Vocabulary Prime mover
Muscle that has the major responsibility for causing a movement.
Antagonist Muscles that oppose or reverse a movement
Synergyst Help prime movers
Fixator Special synergists Stabilize the origin of the prime mover
Developmental AspectsHomeostatic Imbalance
Development
In the fetus, muscles are laid down in segments and then segments are invaded by nerves.
Occurs very early in the pregnancy.
Homeostatic Imbalance Muscular Dystrophy
Congenital muscle-destroying disease Duchenne: usually diagnosed between age 2-6▪ Normal child begins to fall, lose coordination.▪ Wheel chair by age 12▪ Generally do not live beyond teens
Myastenia gravis Happens in adults Shortage of acetylcholine receptors at
neuromuscular junctions results in generalized muscle weakness.
Homeostatic Imbalance, cont. Nerve Damage
Destruction of nerve supply to muscle causes the muscle to lose tone and become paralyzed.
Over time, the muscle with become soft and atrophy.