Physiology

Lesson 5: Skeletal Muscle

System
Doç. Dr. Emrah Şefik Abamor
The Muscular System

Muscle cells in are divided

the human into three
organism: types.

heart muscle skeletal

muscle
smooth
muscle
 • 1. Movement: Together with
the bones and joints, they
enable displacement
movements such as walking
Common and running.
Features of • 2. Transportation of matter in
Muscle the body: Of the muscles in
Tissue our body, smooth muscles
provide the movement of the
digestive, excretory and
reproductive systems, while
the heart muscle is
responsible for pumping
blood throughout the body.
Common Features of Muscle Tissue

3. Formation of the
4. Heat production: 85% of
shape of the body:
The skeletal muscles body heat is generated by
around the bones muscle contraction.
are also responsible Shivering is the involuntary
for the body shape. contraction of skeletal
muscle to produce heat.
Muscle Tissue

• Muscle tissue has five important characteristics that serve to

maintain homeostasis.
1. Excitability
2. Transmitting
3. Contractibility
4. Extensibility
5. Elasticity
involuntarily
involuntarily
 T-tubule and
Interior structure
S.R. triads
nucleus
Striated Muscle
nucleus
 Skeletal Muscle
• The muscle cell is also called muscle
fiber.

• They are long cylindrical shaped cells and

contain more than one nucleus.

• Muscle fibers contain smaller fibers

called myofibrils.

• Myofibrils in turn consist of thick and thin

extensions called myofilaments.

• Myofilaments are composed of

shortenable proteins called myosin, actin,
tropomyosin and troponin.
 Microfilaments
• The thin one is composed of TROPONIN and
TROPOMYOSIN molecules, mainly ACTIN, and the
thick one is composed of MYOSIN molecules.
T-tubule
 Sarcomere
• The region on the sarcomere where only actin
filaments are present is called the I band and gives
a light-colored appearance in light microscopy.

• The parts where actin and myosin filaments are

located together appear darker. These regions are
called A BAND.
 Sarcomere

• In the middle of the A band there is an area

consisting of only myosin, which actin cannot
reach. This area, called the H region, will be
darker than the I band and lighter than the A
band.
Shortening of Sarcomeres
 Actin

• It is the main part of thin filaments. Globular G-

actin polymers are strung together to form a chain.
• A second chain wraps around it to form a helix.
• Each G-actin molecule contains an active site, to
which the head region of myosin (S1 fragment)
binds.
Troponin

• Troponin is a complex of 3 regulatory proteins involved in contraction in

striated and cardiac muscle. It is absent in smooth muscle.

• Troponin C binds calcium ion and changes the conformation of the

tropomyosin molecule on actin (structural change in Troponin I),
exposing the myosin binding sites of actin.

• Troponin T binds to tropomyosin to form the troponin-tropomyosin

complex.

• Troponin I has an inhibitory effect on contraction, binding to actin in

thin myofilaments. It is most concentrated in the myocardium.
Tropomyosin-Troponin Complex
Myosin

• Myosins are a family of ATP-dependent motor proteins

with up to 16 members identified.
• “Myosin 2” is found in muscle cells and accounts for
55% of the total muscle protein mass.
• Together with actin, it forms actomyosin and regulates
contraction and relaxation in muscles.
 • Thanks to the Tubule-
Sarcoplasmic reticulum System
relationship, the action potential
can be transmitted into the
T Tubule- fiber.
Sarcoplasmic
Reticulum • This conduction leads to the
System release of Ca++ ion from the
sarcoplasmic reticulum, a
calcium store, into the
sarcoplasm, causing muscle
contraction.
Nerve - Muscle Junction (Stimulation-
Contraction)
 Muscle Contraction
• Thick and thin filaments interact with each other
through cross-bridges during contraction.
 Muscle Contraction
• Muscle contraction-relaxation is mediated by
the adhesion and detachment of the globular
head of myosin to actin.

• The myosin head containing ADP and Pi binds to

actin to form the actin-myosin-ADP-Pi complex.
Muscle Contraction

filament
Theory of Sliding Filaments
approach each other
Muscle Relaxation
Biochemical changes as a result of
contraction

Heat
Phosphocreatine
ATP from metabolism + creatine Phosphocreatine + ADP
Skeletal Muscle Energy Sources

• Skeletal muscle uses fatty acids as an energy source at rest and

during light exercise.
• Free fatty acids are converted to ATP by beta oxidation in the
mitochondria and are combined with creatine and stored as
creatine phosphate.
• During exercise, this creatine phosphate is used as emergency
storage. If exercise intensity increases, carbohydrates are used
more predominantly as an energy source.
• Carbohydrates undergo glycolysis and lactate is formed.
Lactate causes pain in the muscle.
 Muscle Concussion
• The contraction and subsequent relaxation of the
fiber for a certain period of time as a result of a
single action potential developed by nerve
stimulation is called muscle concussion.
• There is a quiet period before the contraction and
relaxation periods.
Muscle Concussion
A B D E
 Muscle Tone
• Muscle fibers constantly receive impulses from nerve
cells.
• Thanks to these impulses, even when we are not
moving, our muscles are in a state of partial
contraction known as muscle tone.
• Muscle tone is an involuntary phenomenon that
prepares the muscles for movement.
 Muscle Tone
• Muscle tone is also important in maintaining normal
body posture.
• When the motor nerve of the muscle is cut, the
muscle loses its tone, the muscles soften and
weaken
• Through muscle tone, the muscle gains the ability to
react faster than a completely relaxed muscle.
 Frequency Summing

• A stimulus given during muscle contraction leads

to a higher response.
• This is known as “frequency summation” and is
probably due to the muscle's increased ability to
release calcium during contraction.
Frequency Summing
 Incomplete Tetanus

• When frequency summation continues with

successive stimuli, it causes an increase in muscle
strength up to the maximum tension the muscle
can produce.
• After this, a state of incomplete tetanus occurs in
which muscle tone remains at its maximum point
with slight relaxations.
Incomplete Tetanus
 Complete Tetanus
• When stimuli are given at high frequency, the
muscle goes into a state of “ complete tetanus”
and remains in a contracted state due to the
constant stimuli before it has a chance to relax.

• Even if the stimuli continue, this state will subside

after a while due to muscle fatigue.
• This is called post-tetanus fatigue.
 Types of Contraction

• Isometric contraction: When pushing against a

table or wall, there is no change in muscle length,
but the tension (tonus) increases.
• Isotonic contraction: When we lift something
heavy or bend our elbow, the muscles shorten and
thicken, but their tension (tonus) does not change.
Muscle Atrophy
• Muscle atrophy refers to a condition in which
muscles gradually decline and wear out. The
main cause of muscle loss is lack of physical
activity.
• Muscle loss can occur when an illness or injury
makes it difficult or impossible to move your
arm or leg.
Causes of Muscle Atrophy

• Lack of physical activity for a long time,

• Aging
• Alcohol-related myopathy,
• Burns
• Injuries such as a torn rotator sheath or bone fracture,
• Malnutrition,
• Spinal cord or peripheral nerve injuries,
• Stroke (paralysis),
• Long-term corticosteroid treatment can be listed as causes.