EDUC 707: Unit 2B

Protection, Movement and

Support
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
The Muscular System
▪ Muscles are responsible for all types of body
movement
▪ Three basic muscle types are found in the
body
▪ Skeletal muscle
▪ Cardiac muscle
▪ Smooth muscle

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Characteristics of Muscles
▪ Muscle cells are elongated
(muscle cell = muscle fiber)
▪ Contraction of muscles is due to the
movement of microfilaments
▪ All muscles share some terminology
▪ Prefix myo refers to muscle
▪ Prefix mys refers to muscle
▪ Prefix sarco refers to flesh

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Skeletal Muscle Characteristics
▪ Most are attached by tendons to bones
▪ Cells are multinucleate
▪ Striated – have visible banding
▪ Voluntary – subject to conscious control
▪ Cells are surrounded and bundled by
connective tissue

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Connective Tissue Wrappings of Skeletal
Muscle
▪ Endomysium –
around single muscle
fiber
▪ Perimysium – around
a fascicle (bundle) of
fibers

Figure 6.1
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Connective Tissue Wrappings of Skeletal
Muscle
▪ Epimysium – covers
the entire skeletal
muscle
▪ Fascia – on the
outside of the
epimysium

Figure 6.1
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Skeletal Muscle Attachments
▪ Epimysium blends into a connective tissue
attachment
▪ Tendon – cord-like structure
▪ Aponeuroses – sheet-like structure
▪ Sites of muscle attachment
▪ Bones
▪ Cartilages
▪ Connective tissue coverings

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Smooth Muscle Characteristics
▪ Has no striations
▪ Spindle-shaped cells
▪ Single nucleus
▪ Involuntary – no
conscious control
▪ Found mainly in the
walls of hollow
organs

Figure 6.2a
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Cardiac Muscle Characteristics
▪ Has striations
▪ Usually has a single
nucleus
▪ Joined to another
muscle cell at an
intercalated disc
▪ Involuntary
▪ Found only in the
heart
Figure 6.2b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Function of Muscles
▪ Produce movement
▪ Maintain posture
▪ Stabilize joints
▪ Generate heat

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Cells are multinucleate
▪ Nuclei are just beneath the sarcolemma

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Sarcolemma – specialized plasma membrane
▪ Sarcoplasmic reticulum – specialized smooth
endoplasmic reticulum

Figure 6.3a
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Myofibril
▪ Bundles of myofilaments
▪ Myofibrils are aligned to give distinct
bands
▪ I band =
light band

▪ A band =
dark band

Figure 6.3b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Sarcomere
▪ Contractile unit of a muscle fiber

Figure 6.3b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Organization of the sarcomere
▪ Thick filaments = myosin filaments
▪ Composed of the protein myosin
▪ Has ATPase enzymes

Figure 6.3c
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Organization of the sarcomere
▪ Thin filaments = actin filaments
▪ Composed of the protein actin

Figure 6.3c
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ Myosin filaments have heads (extensions, or
cross bridges)
▪ Myosin and
actin overlap
somewhat

Figure 6.3d
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscle
▪ At rest, there is a bare zone that lacks actin
filaments
▪ Sarcoplasmic
reticulum
(SR) – for
storage of
calcium

Figure 6.3d
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Properties of Skeletal Muscle Activity
▪ Irritability – ability to receive and respond to
a stimulus
▪ Contractility – ability to shorten when an
adequate stimulus is received

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Nerve Stimulus to Muscles
▪ Skeletal muscles
must be stimulated
by a nerve to
contract
▪ Motor unit
▪ One neuron
▪ Muscle cells
stimulated by
that neuron
Figure 6.4a
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Nerve Stimulus to Muscles
▪ Neuromuscular junctions – association site of
nerve and muscle

Figure 6.5b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Nerve Stimulus to Muscles
▪ Synaptic cleft – gap
between nerve and
muscle
▪ Nerve and
muscle do not
make contact
▪ Area between
nerve and muscle
is filled with
interstitial fluid
Figure 6.5b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Transmission of Nerve Impulse to Muscle
▪ Neurotransmitter – chemical released by
nerve upon arrival of nerve impulse
▪ The neurotransmitter for skeletal muscle is
acetylcholine
▪ Neurotransmitter attaches to receptors on the
sarcolemma
▪ Sarcolemma becomes permeable to sodium
(Na+)

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Transmission of Nerve Impulse to Muscle
▪ Sodium rushing into the cell generates an
action potential
▪ Once started, muscle contraction cannot be
stopped

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

The Sliding Filament Theory of Muscle
Contraction
▪ Activation by nerve
causes myosin heads
(crossbridges) to
attach to binding sites
on the thin filament
▪ Myosin heads then
bind to the next site of
the thin filament

Figure 6.7
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
The Sliding Filament Theory of Muscle
Contraction
▪ This continued action
causes a sliding of the
myosin along the
actin
▪ The result is that the
muscle is shortened
(contracted)

Figure 6.7
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
The Sliding Filament Theory

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Contraction of a Skeletal Muscle
▪ Muscle fiber contraction is “all or none”
▪ Within a skeletal muscle, not all fibers may
be stimulated during the same interval
▪ Different combinations of muscle fiber
contractions may give differing responses
▪ Graded responses – different degrees of
skeletal muscle shortening

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Types of Graded Responses
▪ Twitch
▪ Single, brief contraction
▪ Not a normal muscle function

Figure 6.9a–b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Types of Graded Responses
▪ Tetanus (summing of contractions)
▪ One contraction is immediately followed
by another
▪ The muscle does
not completely
return to a
resting state
▪ The effects
are added
Figure 6.9a–b
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Types of Graded Responses
▪ Unfused (incomplete) tetanus
▪ Some relaxation occurs between
contractions
▪ The results are summed

Figure 6.9c–d
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Types of Graded Responses
▪ Fused (complete) tetanus
▪ No evidence of relaxation before the
following contractions
▪ The result is a sustained muscle
contraction

Figure 6.9c–d
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Muscle Response to Strong Stimuli
▪ Muscle force depends upon the number of
fibers stimulated
▪ More fibers contracting results in greater
muscle tension
▪ Muscles can continue to contract unless they
run out of energy

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Energy for Muscle Contraction
▪ Initially, muscles used stored ATP for energy
▪ Bonds of ATP are broken to release energy
▪ Only 4-6 seconds worth of ATP is stored
by muscles
▪ After this initial time, other pathways must be
utilized to produce ATP

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Energy for Muscle Contraction
▪ Direct phosphorylation
▪ Muscle cells contain
creatine phosphate (CP)
▪ CP is a high-energy
molecule
▪ After ATP is depleted,
ADP is left
▪ CP transfers energy to
ADP, to regenerate ATP
▪ CP supplies are exhausted
in about 20 seconds

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Energy for Muscle Contraction
▪ Aerobic Respiration
▪ Series of metabolic
pathways that occur in
the mitochondria
▪ Glucose is broken down
to carbon dioxide and
water, releasing energy
▪ This is a slower reaction
that requires continuous
oxygen

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Energy for Muscle Contraction
▪ Anaerobic glycolysis
▪ Reaction that breaks
down glucose without
oxygen
▪ Glucose is broken down
to pyruvic acid to
produce some ATP
▪ Pyruvic acid is
converted to lactic acid

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Energy for Muscle Contraction
▪ Anaerobic glycolysis
(continued)
▪ This reaction is not as
efficient, but is fast
▪ Huge amounts of
glucose are needed
▪ Lactic acid produces
muscle fatigue

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscle Fatigue and Oxygen Debt
▪ When a muscle is fatigued, it is unable to
contract
▪ The common reason for muscle fatigue is
oxygen debt
▪ Oxygen must be “repaid” to tissue to
remove oxygen debt
▪ Oxygen is required to get rid of
accumulated lactic acid
▪ Increasing acidity (from lactic acid) and lack
of ATP causes the muscle to contract less
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Types of Muscle Contractions
▪ Isotonic contractions
▪ Myofilaments are able to slide past each
other during contractions
▪ The muscle shortens
▪ Isometric contractions
▪ Tension in the muscles increases
▪ The muscle is unable to shorten

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscle Tone
▪ Some fibers are contracted even in a relaxed
muscle
▪ Different fibers contract at different times to
provide muscle tone
▪ The process of stimulating various fibers is
under involuntary control

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscles and Body Movements
▪ Movement is attained
due to a muscle
moving an attached
bone

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscles and Body Movements
▪ Muscles are attached
to at least two points
▪ Origin –
attachment to a
moveable bone
▪ Insertion –
attachment to an
immovable bone

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Effects of Exercise on Muscle
▪ Results of increased muscle use
▪ Increase in muscle size
▪ Increase in muscle strength
▪ Increase in muscle efficiency
▪ Muscle becomes more fatigue resistant

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Types of Ordinary Body Movements
▪ Flexion
▪ Extension
▪ Rotation
▪ Abduction
▪ Circumduction

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Body Movements

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Body Movements

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Special Movements
▪ Dorsifelxion
▪ Plantar flexion
▪ Inversion
▪ Eversion
▪ Supination
▪ Pronation
▪ Opposition

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Types of Muscles
▪ Prime mover – muscle with the major
responsibility for a certain movement
▪ Antagonist – muscle that opposes or reverses
a prime mover
▪ Synergist – muscle that aids a prime mover in
a movement and helps prevent rotation
▪ Fixator – stabilizes the origin of a prime
mover

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Naming of Skeletal Muscles
▪ Direction of muscle fibers
▪ Example: rectus (straight)
▪ Relative size of the muscle
▪ Example: maximus (largest)

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Naming of Skeletal Muscles
▪ Location of the muscle
▪ Example: many muscles are named for
bones (e.g., temporalis)
▪ Number of origins
▪ Example: triceps (three heads)

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Naming of Skeletal Muscles
▪ Location of the muscle’s origin and insertion
▪ Example: sterno (on the sternum)
▪ Shape of the muscle
▪ Example: deltoid (triangular)
▪ Action of the muscle
▪ Example: flexor and extensor (flexes or
extends a bone)

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Head and Neck Muscles

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Trunk Muscles

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Deep Trunk and Arm Muscles

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscles of the Pelvis, Hip, and Thigh

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Muscles of the Lower Leg

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Superficial Muscles: Anterior

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Superficial Muscles: Posterior

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings