structure of a single muscle fiber. skeletal muscle fiber structure key points an individual muscle...
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Structure of a Single Muscle Fiber
Skeletal Muscle Fiber Structure
Key Points• An individual muscle cell is called a muscle fiber• A muscle fiber is enclosed by a plasma
membrane called the sarcolemma• The cytoplasm of a muscle fiber is called a
sarcoplasm• Within the sarcoplasm, the extensive T-tubules
allow transport of substances throughout the muscle fiber
• The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stores calcium
The Myofibril
Key Points• Myofibrils are made up of sarcomeres• A sarcomere is composed of protein filaments
of myosin and actin• Interactions between the filaments is
responsible for muscle contraction• Myosin, the thick filament, is composed of two
protein strands, each folded into a globular head at one end
• The thin filament is composed of actin, tropomyosin, and troponin, with one end attached to a Z-disk
Alpha Motor Neurons
• One -motor neuron innervates many muscle fibers, collectively called the motor unit
• The action potential arrives at the dendrites and travels down the axon to the axon terminal
Events Leading toMuscle Fiber Contraction
1. A motor neuron releases acetylcholine (ACh) at the neuromuscular junction
2. ACh binds to receptors on the sarcolemma3. If enough ACh binds to receptors, an action potential
is transmitted the full length of the muscle fiber4. The action potential triggers the release of Ca2+ from
the sarcoplasmic reticulum5. Ca2+ binds to troponin on the actin filament, and the
troponin pulls tropomyosin off the active sites, allowing myosin heads to attach to the actin filament
Muscle Fiber Contraction
Key Points• Muscle contraction is initiated by an -motor
neuron action potential• The motor neuron releases ACh, which opens
up ion gates in the muscle cell membrane• Sodium enters the muscle cell depolarizing the
plasmalemma • The action potential travels throughout the
plasmalemma and through the T-tubules, which releases stored Ca2+ ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
(continued)
Muscle Fiber Contraction (continued)
Key Points• Ca2+ ions bind with troponin, lifting the
tropomyosin molecules off the active sites on the actin filament
• The myosin head binds to the active actin site• The myosin head binds ATP, and ATPase on the
myosin heads splits ATP into ADP and Pi, releasing energy to fuel the muscle contraction
• The myosin head tilts, pulling the thin filament past the thick filament—power stroke
• Muscle contraction ends when Ca2+ is actively pumped out of the sarcoplasm back to the sarcoplasmic reticulum
Muscle Biopsy
The muscle biopsy allows us to study muscle fibers and the effects of acute exercise and chronic training on muscle fiber composition– The skin is first anesthetized and then a small
incision is made through the skin – A hollow Bergstrom needle is inserted into the
muscle belly to take the sample– The sample is mounted, frozen, thinly sliced, and
examined under a microscope
Muscle Biopsy
Muscle Fiber Types
• Slow-twitch fibers, Type I (~50%), oxidative• Fast-twitch fibers, Type II
– Type IIa (25%), fast oxidative/glycolytic (FOG)– Type IIx in humans (~25%) ~ IIb in animals,
fast glycolytic (FG)– Type IIc (1-3%)
• The percentage of each fiber type is variable among muscles, among individuals, and with exercise training
Single Muscle Fiber Physiology
• Peak power is different between muscle fiber types
• All fiber types tend to reach their peak power at ~20% peak force
Muscle Fiber TypesKey Points• Skeletal muscle contains type I and type II fibers• Different fiber types have different myosin ATPase activities• Type II fibers have a more highly developed SR, delivering
more Ca2+
• Type II motor units are larger compared to type I motor units• Type II motor units have more muscle fibers to contract and
produce more force than type I motor units• The proportion of type I and type II fibers in an individual’s
arm and leg muscles are usually similar
(continued)
Muscle Fiber Types (continued)
Key Points• Type I fibers have higher aerobic endurance and are
well suited to low-intensity endurance activities• Type II fibers are better suited for anaerobic activity
– Type IIa fibers play a major role in high intensity exercise
– Type IIx fibers are activated when the force demanded of a muscle is high
Determination of Fiber Type
• Fiber type is genetically determined (twin studies)• Fiber type is determined by the -motor neuron that
innervates the muscle fibers• Endurance training, strength training, and muscular
inactivity may cause a shift in myosin isoforms– Exercise training ↓ type IIx and ↑ type IIa
• Aging may shift the relative distribution of type I and type II fibers – ↓ type II and ↑ type I
Motor Unit Recruitment
Principle of orderly recruitment
Motor units are activated on the basis of a fixed order– type I → type IIa → type IIx
Size Principle
Size principle
The order of motor unit recruitment is directly related to
the motor neuron size
Motor Unit Recruitment
Key Points• Motor units give an all-or-none response• Activating more motor units and thus more muscle
fibers produces more force• Motor units are recruited in an orderly way to generate
force or for long duration events– type I → type IIa → type IIx
Athletes and Fiber Type
Key Points• Muscle fiber composition differs in athletes by sport and
event• Speed and strength events are characterized by a
higher percentage of type II fibers• Endurance events are characterized by a higher
percentage of type I fibers
Types of Muscle Contraction
• Concentric contraction: Force is developed while the muscle is shortening
• Isometric contraction: Force is generated but the length of the muscle is unchanged
• Eccentric contraction: Force is generated while the muscle is lengthening
Muscle Force Generation
Key Points• 3 types of muscle contraction
– Concentric– Isometric– Eccentric
• Force production is increased by recruitment of more motor units and through increased frequency of stimulation
• Force production is maximized at the muscle’s optimal length
• Speed of contraction also affects the amount of force produced
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