Chapter 10

Muscle Tissue

1
 3 Types of Muscle Tissue

 Skeletal muscle
– attaches to bone
– striated with light & dark bands
– voluntary control of contraction &
relaxation

2
 3 Types of Muscle Tissue

 Cardiac muscle
– striated in appearance
– involuntary control
– autorhythmic because of built in
pacemaker

3
 3 Types of Muscle Tissue

 Smooth muscle
– in walls of hollow organs -- blood
vessels & GI
– nonstriated in appearance
– involuntary

4
 Functions of Muscle Tissue
 Producing body movements
 Stabilizing body positions
 Regulating organ volumes
– bands of smooth muscle called sphincters
 Movement of substances within the body
– blood, lymph, urine, air, food and fluids,
sperm
 Producing heat
– involuntary contractions of skeletal muscle
(shivering)

5
 Properties of Muscle Tissue
 Excitability
– respond to chemicals released from nerve cells
 Conductivity
– ability to propagate electrical signals over
membrane
 Contractility
– ability to shorten and generate force
 Extensibility
– ability to be stretched without damaging the
tissue
 Elasticity
– ability to return to original shape after being
stretched
6
 Nerve and Blood Supply
 Each skeletal muscle is supplied by
a nerve, artery and two veins.
 Each motor neuron supplies
multiple muscle cells (150 fibers)
(neuromuscular junction)
 Each muscle cell is supplied by one
motor neuron terminal branch and
is in contact with one or two
capillaries.
7
8
Embryonic development:

 Muscle fiber developed from many myoblasts that fuse

together.
 Once fusion has occurred mature muscle cells can not divide
(i.e no mitosis)
 Muscle growth after birth occurs mainly by hypertrophy (i.e
cellular enlargement) & not by hyperplasia (i.e increse in the
number of fiber).

 However, satellite cells retain the ability to regenerate new

cells. But not enough to regenerate the damaged
cells………………….Skeletal muscle undergoes fibrosis

9
 Components of a
Muscle Fiber
– Muscle fibers surrounded by
connective tissue
– Sarcolemma = plasma membrane
– Multinucleated
– Sarcoplasm = cytoplasm which
contains:
- many myofibrils.
- many mitochondria- high energy.
- Many glycogen molecules.
- myoglobin (red-colored, oxygen-bindi
protein). 10
 Components of a
Muscle Fiber

Myofibrils & Myofilaments

 Muscle fibers are filled with threads

called myofibrils separated by SR
(sarcoplasmic reticulum)
 Myofilaments (thick & thin filaments)
are the contractile proteins of muscle 11
 Components of a
Muscle Fiber

Transverse Tubules

 T (transverse) tubules are invaginations of the

sarcolemma into the center of the cell
– filled with extracellular fluid
– carry muscle action potentials down into cell
12
 Components of a
Muscle Fiber

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (SR)

 System of tubular sacs

 Stores Ca+2 in a relaxed muscle
 Release of Ca+2 triggers muscle
contraction

13
 Filaments and the

Sarcomere
Thick (myosin) and thin (actin, tropomyosin and
troponin) filaments overlap each other in a pattern
that creates striations (light I bands and dark A
bands)
 They are arranged in compartments called
sarcomeres, separated by Z discs.

– A band - dark – Z line - link thin

striations, thick and filaments
thin filaments – M line - link thick
– I band - light filaments
striations, thin
filaments only. – Sarcomere - Z to Z
– H zone - thick only. 14
15
 The Proteins of Muscle
 Myofibrils are built of 3 kinds of protein
– contractile proteins
 myosin and actin
– regulatory proteins which turn contraction
on & off
 troponin and tropomyosin
– structural proteins which provide proper
alignment, elasticity and extensibility
 titin, myomesin, nebulin and dystrophin

16
The Proteins of Muscle -- Myosin

 Thick filaments are composed of myosin

– myosin heads (cross bridges) extend toward the
thin filaments
 Held in place by the M line proteins.

17
 The Proteins of Muscle --
Actin

 Thin filaments are made of actin, troponin, & tropomyosin

 The myosin-binding site on each actin molecule is
covered by tropomyosin in relaxed muscle
 The thin filaments are held in place by Z lines.
18
 The Proteins of Muscle --
Titin

 Titan anchors thick filament to the M line and the Z

disc.
 The portion of the molecule between the Z disc and
the end of the thick filament can stretch to 4 times its
resting length and spring back unharmed.
 Role in recovery of the muscle from being stretched.

19
 Other Structural
Proteins

 The M line (myomesin) connects to titin and

connects adjacent thick filaments together.
 Nebulin, an inelastic protein helps anchore the
thin filaments to the Z disc.
 Dystrophin links thin filaments to sarcolemma and
transmits the tension generated to the tendon.

20
 Sliding Filament Mechanism Of
Contraction
 Myosin cross bridges
pull on thin filaments
 Thin filaments slide
inward
 Z Discs come toward
each other
 Sarcomeres
shorten.The muscle
fiber shortens. The
muscle shortens
 Notice :Thick & thin
filaments do not
change in length
21
 Contraction Cycle
4 steps to contraction cycle
– ATP hydrolysis
– attachment of myosin to actin to
form crossbridges
– power stroke
– detachment of myosin from actin
 Cyclekeeps repeating as long as
there is ATP available & high
Ca+2 level near thin filament

22
Steps in the Contraction
Cycle

23
 How Does Contraction
Begin?
 Nerve impulse reaches an axon terminal &
synaptic vesicles release acetylcholine
(ACh)
 ACh diffuses to receptors on the
sarcolemma & Na+ channels open and Na+
rushes into the cell
 A muscle action potential spreads over
sarcolemma and down into the transverse
tubules
 SR releases Ca+2 into the sarcoplasm
 Ca+2 binds to troponin & causes troponin-
tropomyosin complex to move & reveal
myosin binding sites on actin--the 24
 Structures
of NMJ
Region
 Synaptic end bulbs are
swellings of axon
terminals

 End bulbs contain

synaptic vesicles filled
with acetylcholine (ACh)

 Motor end plate

membrane contains 30
million ACh receptors.

25
Excitation - Contraction
Coupling

26
 Relaxation
 Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) breaks
down ACh within the synaptic cleft
 Muscle action potential ceases
 Ca+2 release channels close
 Active transport pumps Ca2+ back into
storage in the sarcoplasmic reticulum
 Calcium-binding protein
(calsequestrin) helps hold Ca+2 in SR
(Ca+2 concentration 10,000 times
higher than in cytosol)
 Tropomyosin-troponin complex
recovers myosin binding site on the
actin 27
Overview: From Start to Finish

28
Events Occurring After a Nerve
Signal
 Arrival of nerve impulse at nerve terminal causes
release of ACh from synaptic vesicles
 ACh binds to receptors on muscle motor end
plate opening the gated ion channels so that Na+
can rush into the muscle cell
 Inside of muscle cell becomes more positive,
triggering a muscle action potential that travels
over the cell and down the T tubules
 The release of Ca+2 from the SR is triggered and
the muscle cell will shorten & generate force
 Acetylcholinesterase breaks down the ACh
attached to the receptors on the motor end plate
so the muscle action potential will cease and the
muscle cell will relax.
29
 Pharmacology of the
NMJ
 Botulinum toxin blocks release of neurotransmitter at
the NMJ so muscle contraction can not occur
– bacteria found in improperly canned food
– death occurs from paralysis of the diaphragm
 Curare (plant poison from poison arrows)
– causes muscle paralysis by blocking the ACh
receptors
– used to relax muscle during surgery
 Neostigmine (anticholinesterase agent)
– blocks removal of ACh from receptors so strengthens
weak muscle contractions of myasthenia gravis

30
 Length of Muscle Fibers
 Optimal overlap of thick & thin filaments
– produces greatest number of crossbridges
and the greatest amount of tension
 As stretch muscle (past optimal length)
– fewer cross bridges exist & less force is
produced
 If muscle is overly shortened (less than
optimal)
– fewer cross bridges exist & less force is
produced
 Normally
– resting muscle length remains between 70 to
130% of the optimum
31
 Length Tension Curve
 Graph of Force of contraction
(Tension) versus Length of
sarcomere
 Optimal overlap at the top
of the graph
 When the cell is too stretched
and little force is produced
 When the cell is too short, again
little force is produced

32
 Muscle Metabolism
Production of ATP in Muscle
Fibers
 Muscle uses ATP at a great rate
when active
 Sarcoplasmic ATP only lasts for
few seconds
 3 sources of ATP production
within muscle
– creatine phosphate
– anaerobic cellular respiration
– anaerobic cellular respiration

33
 Creatine Phosphate
 Excess ATP within resting muscle used to
form creatine phosphate
 Creatine phosphate 3-6
times more plentiful
than ATP within muscle
 Its quick breakdown
provides energy for
creation of ATP
 Sustains maximal contraction for 15 sec
(used for 100 meter dash).
 Athletes tried creatine supplementation
34
Anaerobic Cellular
Respiration
 ATP produced from
glucose breakdown into
pyruvic acid during
glycolysis
– if no O2 present
 pyruvic converted to lactic
acid which diffuses into the
blood
 Glycolysis can continue
anaerobically to provide
ATP for 30 to 40 seconds
of maximal activity (200
meter race)

35
 Aerobic Cellular
Respiration

 ATP for any activity lasting over 30 seconds

– if sufficient oxygen is available, pyruvic acid enters
the mitochondria to generate ATP, water and heat
– fatty acids and amino acids can also be used by
the mitochondria
 Provides 90% of ATP energy if activity lasts
more than 10 minutes 36
 Muscle Fatigue
 Inability to contract after prolonged
activity
– central fatigue is feeling of tiredness
and a desire to stop (protective
mechanism)
– depletion of creatine phosphate
– decline of Ca+2 within the sarcoplasm
 Factors that contribute to muscle fatigue
– insufficient oxygen or glycogen
– buildup of lactic acid and ADP
– insufficient release of acetylcholine
from motor neurons

37
Oxygen Consumption after
Exercise
 Muscle tissue has two sources of oxygen.
– diffuses in from the blood
– released by myoglobin inside muscle fibers
 Aerobic system requires O2 to produce ATP
needed for prolonged activity
– increased breathing effort during exercise
 Recovery oxygen uptake
– elevated oxygen use after exercise (oxygen
debt)
– lactic acid is converted back to pyruvic acid
– Build up glycogen
– elevated body temperature means all 38
 The Motor Unit

 Motor unit = one somatic motor neuron & all the skeletal
muscle cells (fibers) it stimulates
– One nerve cell supplies on average 150 muscle cells
that all contract in unison.
 Total strength of a contraction depends on how many
motor units are activated & how large the motor units are

39
 Twitch Contraction

 Brief contraction of all fibers in a motor unit

uni
in response to
– single action potential
 Myogram = graph of a twitch contraction
– the action potential lasts 1-2 msec
– the twitch contraction lasts from 20 to 200 msec
40
Myogram of a Twitch
Contraction

41
 Parts of a Twitch

Contraction
Latent Period--2msec
– Spreading of AP
– Ca+2 is being released from SR

 Contraction Period
– 10 to 100 msec
– filaments slide past each other
 Relaxation Period
– 10 to 100 msec
– active transport of Ca+2 into SR
 Refractory Period
– muscle can not respond and has lost its excitability
– 5 msec for skeletal & 300 msec for cardiac muscle

42
 Wave Summation
 If second stimulation applied after the refractory
period but before complete muscle relaxation---
second contraction is stronger than first

43
 Complete and Incomplete
Tetanus

 Unfused tetanus
– if stimulate at 20-30 times/second, there will
be only partial relaxation between stimuli
 Fused tetanus
– if stimulate at 80-100 times/second, a
sustained contraction with no relaxation
between stimuli will result 44
Explanation of Summation &
Tetanus
 Wave summation & both types of
tetanus result from Ca+2
remaining in the sarcoplasm
 Force of 2nd contraction is easily
added to the first, because the
elastic elements remain partially
contracted and do not delay the
beginning of the next
contraction
45
 Motor Unit Recruitment
 Motor units in a whole muscle fire
asynchronously
– some fibers are active others are relaxed
– delays muscle fatigue so contraction can be
sustained
- produces smooth muscular contraction
– not series of jerky movements
 Precise movements require smaller
contractions
– motor units must be smaller (less
fibers/nerve)
 Large motor units are active when large
tension is needed 46
 Muscle Tone
 Involuntary contraction of a small
number of motor units (alternately
active and inactive in a constantly
shifting pattern)
– keeps muscles firm even though relaxed
– does not produce movement
 Essential for maintaining posture (head
upright)
 Important in maintaining blood pressure
– tone of smooth muscles in walls of blood
vessels

47
 Isotonic and Isometric
Contraction

 Isotonic contractions = a load is moved

– concentric contraction = a muscle shortens to
produce force and movement
– eccentric contractions = a muscle lengthens while
maintaining force and movement
 Isometric contraction = no movement occurs
– tension is generated without muscle shortening
– maintaining posture & supports objects in a fixed
position
48
Variations in Skeletal Muscle
Fibers
 Myoglobin, mitochondria and capillaries
– red muscle fibers
 more myoglobin, an oxygen-storing reddish
pigment
 more capillaries and mitochondria
– white muscle fibers
 less myoglobin and less capillaries give fibers
their pale color
 Contraction and relaxation speeds vary
– how fast myosin ATPase hydrolyzes ATP
 Resistance to fatigue
– different metabolic reactions used to generate
ATP
49
 Classification of Muscle
Fibers

 Slow oxidative (slow-twitch)

– red in color (lots of mitochondria, myoglobin & blood
vessels)
– prolonged, sustained contractions for maintaining posture
 Fast oxidative-glycolytic (fast-twitch A)

– red in color (lots of mitochondria, myoglobin & blood

vessels)
– split ATP at very fast rate; used for walking and sprinting
 Fast glycolytic (fast-twitch B)

– white in color (few mitochondria & BV, low myoglobin)

50
– anaerobic movements for short duration; used for weight-
 Fiber Types within a Whole
Muscle
 Most muscles contain a mixture of all
three fiber types
 Proportions vary with the usual action of
the muscle
– neck, back and leg muscles have a
higher proportion of postural, slow
oxidative fibers
– shoulder and arm muscles have a
higher proportion of fast glycolytic
fibers
 All fibers of any one motor unit are same.
 Different fibers are recruited as needed.
51
 Anatomy of Cardiac
Muscle

 Striated , short,branching fibers

 Single centrally located nucleus
 Cells connected by intercalated discs with gap
junctions
 Same arrangement of thick & thin filaments as
skeletal
52
 Cardiac versus Skeletal
Muscle
 More sarcoplasm and mitochondria
 Larger transverse tubules located at
Z discs, rather than at A-l band
junctions
 Less well-developed SR
 Limited intracellular Ca+2 reserves
– more Ca+2 enters cell from
extracellular fluid during
contraction
 Prolonged delivery of Ca+2 to
sarcoplasm, produces a contraction
that last 10 -15 times longer than in 53
 Physiology of Cardiac
Muscle
 Autorhythmic cells
– contract without stimulation
 Contracts 75 times per min & needs
lots O2
 Larger mitochondria generate ATP
aerobically
 Sustained contraction possible due
to slow Ca+2 delivery.

54
 Microscopic Anatomy of
Smooth Muscle
 Small, involuntary muscle cell
 Single, oval, centrally located nucleus
 Lack T tubules & have little SR for
Ca+2 storage

55
Two Types of Smooth
Muscle
 Visceral (single-unit)

– in the walls of hollow

viscera & small BV
– autorhythmic
– gap junctions cause
fibers to contract in
unison
 Multiunit

– individual fibers with

own motor neuron
ending
– found in large
arteries, large
airways, arrector pili
muscles,iris & ciliary
body
56
 Microscopic Anatomy of
Smooth Muscle
 Thick & thin myofilaments
not orderly arranged so
lacks sarcomeres
 Sliding of thick & thin
filaments generates
tension
 Transferred to
intermediate filaments &
dense bodies attached to
sarcolemma
 Muscle fiber contracts and
twists into a helix as it
shortens -- relaxes by
untwisting 57
 Physiology of Smooth
Muscle
 Contraction starts slowly & lasts
longer
– no transverse tubules & very little SR
– Ca+2 must flows in from outside
 Calmodulin replaces troponin
– Ca+2 binds to calmodulin turning on
an enzyme (myosin light chain kinase)
that phosphorylates the myosin head
so that contraction can occur
– enzyme works slowly, slowing
contraction 58
 Smooth Muscle Tone

 Ca+2 moves slowly out of the cell

– delaying relaxation and providing for
state of continued partial contraction
– sustained long-term
 Usefulfor maintaining blood
pressure or a steady pressure on
the contents of GI tract

59
 Regulation of

Contraction
Regulation of contraction due to
– nerve signals from autonomic nervous system
– changes in local conditions (pH, O2, CO2,
temperature & ionic concentrations)
– hormones (epinephrine -- relaxes muscle in
airways & some blood vessels)
 Stress-relaxation response
– unlike skeletal muscles, smooth muscle
maintain their contractile function. when
stretched, initially contracts & then tension
decreases this phenomenon called stress-
relaxation response.
– This allows smooth muscle to undergo great
changes in length, while maintain the ability to
60
contract effectively.
 Regeneration of Muscle
 Skeletal muscle fibers cannot divide after 1st year
– growth is enlargement of existing cells
– repair
 satellite cells & bone marrow produce some
new cells
 if not enough numbers---fibrosis occurs most
often
 Cardiac muscle fibers cannot divide or regenerate
– all healing is done by fibrosis (scar formation)
 Smooth muscle fibers (regeneration is possible)
– cells can grow in size (hypertrophy)
– some cells (uterus) can divide (hyperplasia)
– new fibers can form from stem cells in BV walls
61