PNA100

Week 4 Notes on the Muscular System

 Contraction

1. Splitting of ATP - powers the head

2. Forming Cross-bridges- myosin binds to exposed binding sites on actin: Pi released
3. Power Stroke - thick pull thin towards center of sarcomere as ADP is released
4. Detachment - new molecule of ATP binds to myosin head, causing detachment

 Relaxation
 requires:
1. Absence of Ach in synapse (acetylycholinesterase and no more neural signaling)
2. Sequestration of Ca2+ (ATP pumps clear Ca2+ from sarcoplasm); no more cross-
bridge formation as binding sites become covered and thin filaments slip back
to relaxed position
 Muscle Tone
 small numbers of fibers are stimulated to contract to produce tone: enough for keep
muscles firm, maintain posture but not to move anything
 Energy for Contraction.
1. Existing ATP (powers for a few secs)
2. creatine phosphate (powers for 15 secs)
3. Glycolysis (glu from blood or glycogen stores: 30-40 secs)
4. Aerobic Metabolism: for any activity over 30 seconds. Oxygen from blood and
myoglobin
 Muscle Fatigue
 inability of muscle to contract forcefully after prolonged activity
 Contributing factors:
1. lowered release of calcium
2. depletion of creatine phosphate
3. insufficient oxygen
4. depleted glycogen
5. build up of lactic acid and ADP
6. failure of motor neuron to release enough ACh
 Oxygen Debt/Recovery Oxygen Uptake
 increased breathing and oxygen intake continue after exercise ends, beyond
requirements needed at rest to:
1. restores pre-exercise conditions
 convert lactic acid glycogen
 resynthesize creatine phosphat and ATP
 replace myoglobin oxygen stores
 2. covert lactic acid back to pyruvate for ATP synthesis
3. to power the continued heart and skeletal muscle activity ~ heavy breathing
4. Tissue repair
 Aging
 ~age 30, slow, progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass replace by connective and
adipose tissue, partially ~ decreased physical activity
 decreased maximum strength
 slower reflexes
 loss of flexibility
 Production of Muscle Movement
 synergists help prime movers by reducing unnecessary movements
 Fixators stabilize the origin of the prime mover
 any given muscle can act as prime mover, antagonist, synergist or fixator
 Intramuscular Injection Sites
1. Vastus (great) lateralis of the quadriceps femoris: lateral medial third of the
thigh
2. Deltoid: thickest part: 2.5-5 cm below the lower edge of the acromion process
over the midaxillary line
3. Ventrogluteal site: lateral hip, between the iliac crest and the superior iliac spine
(gluteus medius muscle)
4. Dorsogluteal site: upper outer quarter of the buttocks (gluteus medius muscle);
carries high risk of damage to nerves (including sciatic) and pain receptors and
has more adipose tissue so increased chance of giving subcutaneous injection
instead of IM (http://thenursepath.com/2014/04/23/the-ventrogluteal-im-
injection-site/). Not used/recommended in current practice in Ontario

http://ww7.medcomrn.com/aicc/pd/pd0106/pd0106-ts10p01.html
 Muscles of the Quadriceps femoris
 vastus lateralis
 vastus intermedius
 vastus medialis
1. all three insert into femur
2. partially covered by rectus femoris
 rectus femoris
1. inserts into hip
 all four insert into the quadriceps tendon
patellar tendon
 Muscles of the Hamstring Group
 biceps femoris
 semitendinosus
 semimebranosus
1. main knee flexors
2. assist in thigh extension
3. all have origin in hip:
biceps femoris also in femur
4. all insert into tibia: biceps also into fibula