Muscular system Flashcards Preview

Anatomy and Physiology > Muscular system > Flashcards

Flashcards in Muscular system Deck (38)
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1
Q

What are the components of a basic motor unit?

A
Central motor control area
Primary neurone to synapse
Spinal chord
Motor neuron
Neuro-muscular junction
Muscle
2
Q

Brain control of movement

A

Lateral pathways = voluntary muscle movements from direct cortical control
Ventromedial pathways = posture and locomotion from brain stem control

3
Q

Why is white matter in the spinal chord so important?

A

White matter = information highway
Ascending tracts: sensory inputs
Descending tracts: motor inputs (autonomic and somatic)
Cell bodies of motor neurons lie within the ventral horn of the spinal chord (grey matter)

4
Q

Neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction

A
A neuron is activated when the membrane potential reaches a threshold level, triggering an action potential.
This triggers an action potential.
1. Action Potential
2. Ca2+ entry
3. Vesicle fusion
4. ACh release
5. ACh receptor activation
6. Current Propogation
7. ACh removal
5
Q

Excitation-contraction coupling

A

Excitation of a muscle cell causes its contraction nearly simultaneously
Made possible by:
- close proximity between sarcolemma/T tubule, sarcoplasmic reticulum and myofibrils
Myofibrils surrounded by sarcoplasmic reticulum
T tubules continuous with extracellular fluid
Depolarisation of t-tubule membrane = big release of Ca+ into cystol from different sources

6
Q

Describe a myofibril

A

Sarcoplasm contains many long, protein-rich structures called myofribrils
Made up of:
- actin (thin strands)
-myosin (thick strands)
which are organised into sarcomeres = basic contractile unit of a muscle fibre

7
Q

Sliding filament hypothesis

A

AT REST: troponin (protein) covers actin filament

  • when calcium is released from SR due to action potential, calcium binds to troponin exposing the actin
  • myosin head binds to exposed sites and pivots, shortening myosin filaments = contraction
  • ATP is needed to disengage the myosin head = muscle relaxation
8
Q

What are the two components needed for muscle contraction and their importance?

A

ATP
- obtained from creatinine phosphate, aerobic and anaerobic metabolism
- allows for detachment of myosin head from actin binding sites
- rigor mortis if no ATP
CALCIUM
- at rest is stored in sarcoplasmic reticulum
- action potential triggers release from SR, binding to actin to expose actin binding sites, myosin head attaches = contraction
- active re-uptake by SR
- myopathies, statins-induced myotoxicity

9
Q

The importance of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction

A

Is the neurotransmitter released at the synapse to propagate action potential
Broken down by ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE
into choline and acetic acid which is reabsorbed (choline transporter)

10
Q

What is neuropathy?

A

Disease or dysfunction of peripheral nerves

11
Q

What is myopathy?

A

Disease of muscle tissue

12
Q

Which part of the brain is responsible for Parkinson’s disease?

A

Basal ganglia - facilitates wanted movements, suppresses unwanted movements
Parkinson’s = degeneration of dopaminergic neurones

13
Q

Which part of the brain is responsible for MS?

A

Cerebellum - coordination action in posture, movement pathways may be affected

14
Q

How does botox work?

A

Disrupts SNARE complex formation - synaptic vesicles can’t release acetylcholine into the NMJ = muscles do not get signal to contract
Therapeutic application for cerebral palsy

15
Q

Myasthenia gravis

A

Autoimmune disease
Antibodies against acetylcholine receptors are produced
- inefficient detection of acetylcholine leads to muscle weakness and fatigue

16
Q

Motor neurone disease

A

Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy
Degeneration of large alpha motor neurons and neurons od the motor cortex that synapse onto these
Causes: excitotoxicity, build up of harmful free radicals

17
Q

Sciatica

A

Compression of spinal roots by herniated intervertebral discs

  • weakness of leg muscles
  • pain in back of thigh
18
Q

Describe cardiac muscle

A
  • Small, branched cells interconnected to other
    cardio myocytes, centrally located nucleus, striated
  • rely on cardiac self-contractile pacemaker cells for contractions
  • functions are blood circulation and to maintain hydrostatic BP
19
Q

Describe smooth muscle

A
  • Small, spindle-shaped cells with tapered ends, centrally located nucleus, non-striated
  • located in walls of blood vessels, hollow organs, respiratory, digestive, CV and reproductive tracts
  • can be self-contractile/ require innervation from autonomic nerves
  • functions are movement of food, urine and reproductive tract secretions, regulation of diameter of airways/ blood vessels
20
Q

Describe skeletal muscle

A
  • Very long, striated cells, multinucleated
  • located throughout the body, associated with bones and connective tissue
  • innervated by somatic and voluntary motor nerves
  • functions are movement of skeleton, guards entrances to respiratory/digestive/urinary tracts, protects internal organs, nutrient store
21
Q

Definition of synergist muscles

A

Muscles that work together/in the same direction

22
Q

Definition of an antagonist muscles

A

Works in the opposite direction to a given muscle eg. triceps, quadriceps, extensor digitorum

23
Q

Definition of agonist muscles/prime mover

A

Muscle whose contraction is responsible for producing a particular movement eg. biceps, hamstrings, flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus

24
Q

Name the 3 layers surrounding a muscle

A

Epimysium: (outer layer) dense collagen layer surrounding the muscle, separating it from the nearby tissue
Perimysium: (middle layer) divides muscles into fascicles, contains collagen, elastic fibres, nerves and blood vessels
Endomysium: (inner layer) flexible layer inside fascicles, contains fine capillaries and nerve supply

25
Q

Motor unit

A

Basic unit of contraction

  • typical muscle controlled by 100 motor neurons
  • each muscle fibre is normally innervated by only one motor neuron in only one place
26
Q

Define a muscle unit

A

Muscle fibres innervated by a single motor neuron

27
Q

Define a motor unit

A

Muscle unit plus its motor neuron

28
Q

Define a motor neurone pool

A

Collection of neurons innervating a single muscle

29
Q

What are the 3 types of skeletal muscle fibres?

A

Slow - slow contraction, low force generated but high endurance (fatigue resistance), red muscle, oxidative enzymes aerobic metabolism eg. marathon
Fast (a) - fast contraction, medium force developed and endurance, (fatigue resistance), oxidative and glycolytic enzymes, mixed metabolism
Fast (b) - fast contraction, high force generated but low endurance(fast fatiguing), glycolytic enzymes, anaerobic metabolism eg. sprint

30
Q

What is muscular dystrophy?

A

Total lack of mRNA for the dystrophin protein
X linked inheritance
Long term damage caused from friction of fibres without proper anchoring causes muscle degeneration

31
Q

What are muscle spindles?

A

Sensory organs within our muscles
Mechanosensitive channels = cause sensory neurons to fire more when muscle spindle is stretched
Causes muscle to contract in response so muscles aren’t damaged by excessive stretch

32
Q

Simple tendon jerk reflex

A

Also known as myotatic/stretch reflex

Reflex can be normal, absent, hyper or hypo-reactive

33
Q

Describe a tendon reflex arc

A
  1. Activation of sensory receptors by muscle stretch with reflex hammer
  2. Sensory message transported to spinal chord via myelinated afferent axons (in peripheral nerves)
  3. Afferent neurons synapse onto lower motor neurons in the spinal chord = activation
  4. Motor message is transported to muscle fibres via myelinated axons
  5. Contraction of muscle fibres = reflex limb movement
34
Q

Describe the normal withdrawal reflex

A

Crossed-extensor reflex: reciprocal inhibition inhibits flexors on opposite side of the body.
Extensor muscle activation helps stabilise extra load on the opposite limb.
Complex reflex arc involving excitatory and inhibitory interneurons.
Pain causes all flexors to be stimulated, moving limb away
Clinical testing:
- flexor plantar reflex/ Babinski sign
- short instrument stroked on sole of foot:
> big toe flexion - normal
> big toe extension - abnormal

35
Q

Name 4 clinical neurological exams

A

Tendon reflexes - ankle jerk
Muscle tone
Muscle strength
Pyramidal drift

36
Q

Observations in clinical neurological exams

A

Observations - resting posture, symmetry, hypertrophy, wasting, involuntary movements
Coordination, balance, proprioception - heel toe walking
Muscle strength- resistance to applied force

37
Q

Lower motor neuron lesions

A

Innervate skeletal muscle directly, located in ventral horn of spinal chord or cranial nerve nuclei
Lesion = weakness, atrophy, decrease muscle tone and tendon reflexes

38
Q

Upper motor neuron lesions

A

Originate in higher motor centres ( eg. cerebral cortex), synapse with LMN, relay descending commands
Lesion: weakness, increase tendon reflexes and tone, Babinski