HUMAN ANATOMY

EVALS 3
Lecture 4: Muscle Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

NOTE: The term “muscle” refers to muscle tissue or

INTRODUCTION organ that is made up of skeletal muscle tissue.
Architects have a dictum: form follows
function. In histology—on muscle tissues, at  organization of skeletal muscle as an organ
least, such is applied also. Much about the
physical properties (among others) of skeletal, 1. Muscle cell (fiber)
cardiac and smooth/visceral muscle tissues, for - enveloped by endomysium
instance, are considered essential to the o endomysium: connective tissue
manners through which they exert their with fine reticular fibers
functions. 2. Muscle bundle (fascicle)
- collection of muscle fibers
LECTURE CONTENT - enveloped by connective tissue called
1. Muscle Cell
perimysium
2. Muscle Tissue 3. Muscle
3. Skeletal Muscle Tissue - collection of muscle fascicles
4. Skeletal Muscle Cell (Fiber) - enveloped by connective tissue called
5. Sliding Filament Theory epimysium
6. Transverse (T) Tubules and Sarcoplasmic
Reticulum SKELETAL MUSCLE CELL (FIBER)
7. Myoneural Junction
 relatively long cell (10-35 cm)
8. Review of Mechanism of Muscle Contraction
9. Skeletal Muscle Fibers (Types)  10-100 m in diameter
10. Cardiac Muscle Tissue  cylindrical and tapering
11. Cardiac Muscle Cell (Modified)  multi-nucleated
12. Cardiac Muscle Cell (Contraction) - result of fusion of myoblasts (mono-
13. Smooth Muscle Tissue
14. Smooth Muscle Tissue (Contraction)
nucleated muscle cell precursors that
15. Repair and Regeneration derive from mesenchymal cells)
- oval nuclei usually at periphery of cell and
may exist hundredfold
MUSCLE CELL - longitudinally oriented
 elongated cells, thus often called as fibers SARCOPLASM
 derived from mesoderm - eosinophilic (“basic”)
o except for few, such as those in iris of - organelles
the eye (from ectoderm) o usual complement
 TERMS o but few rough endoplasmic reticulum
“sarco-” → “sark-” → “sarx” (Greek, “flesh”) and ribosomes
a. muscle fiber: preferred term used other - inclusions:
than but refer to “muscle cell” (also o lipid droplets
known as “myocyte”) o glycogen granules
b. sarcolemma: “plasma membrane” in - myoglobin
muscle cells o dissolved in sarcoplasm
c. sarcoplasm: “cytoplasm” in muscle o oxygen-binding protein
cells o responsible for brownish color of
d. sarcoplasmic reticulum: analogous to muscle
smooth endoplasmic reticulum - myofibrils
e. sarcosomes: analogous to o long, thin (1-2 mm) filamentous
mitochondria elements
 individually wrapped by basal lamina o distinguishing feature of cell (5,000-
 of relatively high contractility 10,000/cell)
o fill sarcoplasm
MUSCLE TISSUE o smallest unit of contractile apparatus
 highly organized, bound together by connective appreciated under light microscope
tissue o have transverse striations of
 TYPES alternating light and dark bands
1. Skeletal muscle tissue  light band (I or isotropic band)
- striated cells (containing transverse  dark band (A or anisotropic band)
bands or stripes) o light and dark bands aligned with those
- exhibits cross striations of other myofibrils
- exhibit voluntary control o alignment of light and dark bands
- except for some e.g., proximal third accounts for cross-striation of skeletal
of esophagus, pharynx muscles seen under light microscope
2. Cardiac muscle tissue o myofibrils in electron microscope:
- striated cells  Z-line (Zwischenscheiben line; z-
- exhibit involuntary control band; z-disc)
- confined to heart and proximal part of  dark line containing α-actinin
blood vessels attached to heart  bisects I-band
3. Smooth/visceral muscle tissue  H-band (Henle’s band; Heller band;
- non-striated cells, rather fusiform (with Hell band; Henson’s band)
tapered ends)  lighter zone in center of A band
- exhibit involuntary control  M-line (Mittelscheibe line, German:
- forms muscular component of visceral “disc in middle of sarcomere”)
organs and blood vessels  thin dark band
SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE  bisects H band
 organized to form organs called muscles  Sarcomere
- most are named, most originate and/or  bounded from Z line to Z line
insert in bone, except mimetic muscles  1.5-2.0 mm long in resting
and upper third of esophagus muscle

TRANSCRIBERS: Dra. Camille Francesca Simon, Dra. Noreen Gaile Macaraeg, Dra. Rose Lyn Vega
SUBTRANSHEADS: Dr. Jeff Daniel Lauron 1 OF 5
 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 4: Muscle Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 smallest repetitive subunit of chains, each having a

contractile apparatus
 myofibril consists of numerous
sarcomeres, up to 10,000
arranged end to end
- COMPOSITION:
 Myofilaments (filaments)
 comprise of sarcomeres
 1,000 to 2,000 filaments per
sarcomere
 arranged parallel to long axis of
myofibril
 Types of Filaments
1. Thick
 span region of A band
 midpoints attached at M line
 mainly of myosin
2. Thin
 run between and parallel to
thick filaments
 mainly of actin
 more numerous but finer (5-6
nm vs. 10-15 nm) and shorter
(1 mm vs. 1.5-1.6 mm)
 one end attached or anchored
to Z line
 A Band
 thick filaments partly overlapped
by thin filaments
 cross section: thick filament
surrounded by six (6) thin
filaments, assuming hexagonal
orientation
 I Band
 portions of thin filaments not
overlapping thick filaments
 H Band
 portions of thick filament not
overlapped by thin filaments
 M Line
 composed by lateral connections
made between adjacent thick
filaments
 Myofilaments
 contains four (4) proteins
1. Actin
2. Tropomyosin
3. Troponin
4. Myosin
 types:
1. Thick:
 composed of myosin
 myosin molecules
› principal constituent of thick
filament
› comprises 60% of total
proteins in myofibrils (actin:
15%)
› much bigger and heavier
than actin
› in each molecule,
composed of six (6)
polypeptide chains
- two heavy chains
- four light chains
› parts:
- tail: parts of the 2
heavy chains
conform into a double
helix together
- heads (2): remaining
parts of one heavy
chain plus two light
binding site for actin
› 274 myosin molecules
comprise each thick
filament
› myosin heads project at
regular intervals along thick
filaments
2. Thin:
- composed of actin, tropomyosin,
and troponin
- F-actin:
› principal protein component
› two strands of globular (G-actin)
molecules
› anchored by proteins (α-actinin
& desmin) to Z-line to keep
aligned
› each G-actin molecule has
binding site for myosin
- Tropomyosin and Troponin:
› arranged on both sides of actin
filament
› form troponin-tropomyosin
complex that cover binding site
in actin filament, until exposed
by reaction of calcium ions to
troponin
SLIDING FILAMENT THEORY
(developed by Andrew F. Huxley, Rolf Niedergerke,
Hugh Huxley and Jean Hanson, 1954)
At rest…
 binding sites in actin molecules covered by
troponin-tropomyosin complex
During contraction…
 length of thin and thick filaments remain
constant
 thick filaments, also stationary and not changing
length
 thin filaments slide till they overlap, perhaps
parallel to M-line
 I and H bands decrease in width
 Z-lines move toward center of sarcomere
 in presence of calcium ions
- calcium ions bind with troponin-
tropomyosin complex
- cover is removed, exposing actin to bind
with myosin light chain head
PROCESS:
1. Receptors in heads of myosin molecules bind
spontaneously with receptors in actin molecules
2. Binding results in hydrolysis of ATPs by ATPase
in myosin heads and release of energy
3. Heads of myosin molecules bend pulling the
actin molecules with them
4. Cycle of events is repeated when myosin head
binds to another receptor site
NOTE: Sites will be available as long as Ca+ is bound to
troponin-tropomyosin complex.
TRANSVERSE (T) TUBULES AND SARCOPLASMI
RETICULUM (S.R.)
 TRANSVERSE (T) TUBULE
that o Tubular invaginations of plasmalemma
o Lumen continuous with extracellular
space
o Form anastomosing system that
encircles sarcomeres at junction of A & I
bands

TRANSCRIBERS: Dra. Camille Francesca Simon, Dra. Noreen Gaile Macaraeg, Dra. Rose Lyn Vega
SUBTRANSHEADS: Dr. Jeff Daniel Lauron 2 OF 5
 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 4: Muscle Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

 SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM (distinct form of  50 nm deep space between

sER in muscles) axolemma and sarcolemma
o Forms complex system of channels
within the sarcomere REVIEW OF MECHANISM OF MUSCLE
CONTRACTION
1. Nervous impulse travels through axon of
o Terminal cisternae somatic motor neuron to myoneural junction
 Expanded (channels) portions of 2. Arrival of impulse at myoneural junction triggers
S.R. release of acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) into
 At junction of A & I bands synaptic cleft
 Abut sides of T Tubules 3. Acetylcholine triggers local depolarization that
o Function: rapidly spreads across muscle cell surface
 Capture and store Ca2+ ions 4. Depolarization impulse from surface is
 TRIAD (present in skeletal muscle) instantaneously transmitted to terminal cisternae
o Components via T-tubules
1. T-tubules 5. Sarcoplasmic reticulum depolarizes and
- Carries signal to depolarize from myoneural releases Ca2+ ions
junction to sarcoplasmic reticulum 6. In presence of Ca2+ ions
- Ensures instantaneous and simultaneous o Ca2+ bind with troponin-tropomyosin
depolarization of S.R. in all sarcomeres complex
- Termination of the nerve ends on the surface of o the cover is removed
the muscle cell 7. Receptors in heads of myosin molecules bind
- Instantaneous delivery of the nerve impulse to spontaneously with receptors in actin molecules
contract at the same time 8. Binding results in hydrolysis of ATPs by ATPase
- Pair of terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic in myosin heads and release of energy
reticulum 9. Heads of myosin molecules bend pulling the
- When depolarized: actin molecules with them
o Release of Ca2+ ions into vicinity of 10. Myosin remains flexed and bound to the actin
overlapping thick and thin filaments until another ATP molecule binds to it
o Triggers muscle contraction by binding 11. ATP is broken down to ADP and inorganic
with troponin-tropomyosin complex phosphate (Pi) and the energy released is used
- When depolarization ends: to cock myosin head back (return to “activated”
o Acts as a calcium sink that allows Ca2+ position)
ions back into cisternae 12. Cycle of events is repeated when myosin head
binds to another receptor site
MYONEURAL JUNCTION 13. Sites will be available as long as Ca2+ is bound
MOTOR UNIT to the troponin-tropomyosin complex
1. Somatic motor
 Carries impulse for muscle SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
contraction from CNS to muscle TYPES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS
fibers
 Nerve fiber is myelinated but A. Red (Slow-Twitch, Type I)
loses myelin and arborizers as it o Smaller in diameter than white
reaches junctional site o Contract at slower rate than white but
2. Muscle fibers innervated by somatic capable of continuous contraction
neuron o Do not fatigue easily
 Up to 160 in number o Richer blood supply than white
o High content of myoglobin
o Many mitochondria
MYONEURAL JUNCTION o E.G. long muscles of back
 aka motor endplate or neuromuscular B. White (Fast-Twitch, Type II)
junction o Larger in diameter than red
 Specialized structure at point of contact o Contracts rapidly but briefly
between: o Fatigues fast
1. Somatic motor (efferent) neuron o Low myoglobin content
 Forms terminal bouton (bouton o Fewer mitochondria
terminaux) o E.G. Extraocular muscles
 Bouton occupies depression on C. Intermediate
(synaptic trough; primary o Characteristics that lie between red and
synaptic cleft) muscle cell white
surface
 Within bouton are numerous  Most human muscles contain all three types of
mitochondria and synaptic muscle fibers, but ratio depends on function of
vesicles muscle
2. Muscle fiber (cells) o E.G. Muscles for running like
 Forms depression called gastrocnemius are mainly white
synaptic troughs or primary  Exercise can transform muscle from one type to
synaptic clefts another
 Sarcolemma thrown into  A skeletal muscles consists of numerous motor
numerous deep junctional folds units
(secondary synaptic clefts)  Muscle fibers that comprise motor unit are of
 In sarcoplasm below folds, lie same type
several nuclei, numerous  Often, motor units not activated simultaneously
mitochondria, ribosomes and
glycogen granules
3. Synaptic cleft

TRANSCRIBERS: Dra. Camille Francesca Simon, Dra. Noreen Gaile Macaraeg, Dra. Rose Lyn Vega
SUBTRANSHEADS: Dr. Jeff Daniel Lauron 3 OF 5
 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 4: Muscle Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

SENSORY RECEPTORS IN SKELETAL MUSCLES o collected into bundles or fascicles

 Present in skeletal muscles, tendons and (enveloped by perimysium)
surrounding connective tissue o Morphology:
1. Free nerve endings  Cylindrical
 Naked nerve terminals  Diameter: 15 µm
2. Expanded-tip  Length: 50-100 µm
3. Encapsulated  Cross-striated and branched at the
 Nerve terminations enveloped ends
by connective tissue capsules  1 to 2 centrally located nucleus (pale
a. Proprioception – Monitoring position stained and oval in shape)
of limbs and state of contraction  Sarcoplasm: same organelles as
 Neuromuscular spindles skeletal muscles but with larger and
 Golgi tendon organs more mitochondria
b. General sensation; discussed with  Distinct cell boundaries
nervous tissue  Intercalated discs that attaches the
 Vater-Pacini corpuscles cells from end to end
 Ruffini’s corpuscles
INTERCALATED DISCS
NEUROMUSCULAR SPINDLE  darkly stained, transverse line
 aka, muscle spindle  cross chain of cardiac cells at irregular interval
 In endomysium and perimysium of all muscles  junctional complexes
 Numerous in muscles for fine motor movement  regions (in EM):
like extraocular muscles 1. transverse portion
 Stretch receptor – detects changes in muscle a. two forms of junctional complexes
length fascia adherens
 Encapsulated fusiform structure (1-6mm length)  like zonula adherens but not a
Components: band
1. Capsule  terminal z-lines
› Connective tissue  anchors thin filaments of
› Encloses fluid-filled space terminal sarcomeres
desmosomes
2. Intrafusal Fibers  present in regular intervals
› Modified muscle fibers in spindle b. prevents separation of cells during
› Smaller and shorter than surrounding contraction
(extrafusal) fibers 2. lateral portion
› Types: a. runs parallel to myofibrils
a. Nuclear bag  essentially the same with that of
 Central area dilated and with skeletal muscle
several nuclei  cross striations are not as
prominent because cardiac
b. Nuclear chain muscle cell have more
 No dilation and nuclei in single cytoplasm and mitochondria
row b. has gap junctions (for spread of
contractile depolarization)
3. Sensory Nerve Endings T-TUBULES
› Types:  invagination of plasmalemma (same with
a. Annulospiral skeletal)
 Nonmyelinate  BUT arranged around Z-line
 Spirally wrapped around center  Lumens of tubules are bigger
of intrafusal fiber SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM
b. Flower spray  Not well-developed
 Smaller nerve endings  1 terminal cisterna
 Innervate periphery  Dyads (instead of triads) are formed by t-tubules
GOLGI TENDON ORGAN and terminal cisterna
 In tendons
 Cone-shaped; 1mm long CARDIAC MUSCLE CELL (MODIFIED)
 Sensitive to contraction, not stretching PURKINJE FIBERS
Components:  modified cardiac muscle cells present in certain
1. Capsule areas of heart
› Cone shaped  larger than usual cardiac muscle cells
2. Collagen fibers  non-contractile
› Occupy inside of organ  initiate and conduct electrical impulse in heart
3. Afferent nerve fiber
› Loses myelin in organ CARDIAC MUSCLE CELL (CONTRACTION)
› Breaks into branches
 like that of skeletal but:
› Embedded in collagen fibers
1. Ca ions come not only from
sarcoplasmic reticulum but also from
CARDIAC MUSCLE TISSUE
outside the cell
 Striated 2. contraction not initiated by nervous
 Involuntary impulse but generated by Purkinje fibers
 Located mainly at the heart (myocardium, blood that make up sinoatrial node (SA node)
vessels)
 Composed of cardiac muscle cells  autonomic motor neurons
o enveloped by endomysium (connective 1. regulate strength and rate of contraction
tissue elements) of cells

TRANSCRIBERS: Dra. Camille Francesca Simon, Dra. Noreen Gaile Macaraeg, Dra. Rose Lyn Vega
SUBTRANSHEADS: Dr. Jeff Daniel Lauron 4 OF 5
 HUMAN ANATOMY
EVALS 3
Lecture 4: Muscle Tissue
Lecturer: Eduardo G. Gonzales, M.D.

2. axons (efferent fibers) end a short o From extracellular substance

distance from muscle cells they supply o Enter cell via diffusion during
3. Neurotransmitters released in depolarization
extracellular space then diffuse into o No troponin-tropomyosin complexes
cells. o Interacts with calmodulin-myosin light
chain kinase
SMOOTH MUSCLE TISSUE o Activates myosin light chain kinase
 not striated o Cells contractile
 contractions slow and not forceful o Contraction without neural stimulation
 location: o In intestines, pacesetter cells called
o walls and parenchyma of most visceral cells of Cajal are present
organs  Autonomic efferent fibers
o walls of blood vessels o innervates smooth muscles
o skin o regulate contraction
 composed of smooth muscle cells o terminate and release
o singly o neurotransmitters short distance from
 e.g., loose connective tissue muscle cells
 solitary cells enclosed in o efferent stimuli transmitted via gap
endomysium junctions
o fascicles
 usual arrangement MUSCLE TISSUE: REPAIR AND REGENERATION
 cells surrounded and bound  Skeletal Muscle
together by network of reticular  Incapable of mitosis
fibers & other connective tissue  Limited regenerative capacity because of
elements satellite cells
 desmosomes and gap junctions o Myoblast-like stem cell
o morphology: o residual population exists within
 fusiform basal lamina that surround muscle
 length: 20-500 µm cells
 narrow part of one cell abuts on o divide and fuse together to form
broad part of another new cells, in case of injury
 enveloped by endomysium o in large injuries, scar tissue
 one central nucleus develops
 sarcoplasm:  Smooth muscle
 acidophilic  Depends on organ
 organelles are o none or minimal
concentrated at o in e.g. uterus, new cells can be
perinuclear area and produced
sarcoplasmic reticulum  Cardiac muscle
is rudimentary  Negligible regenerative capacity
 does not form t-  Replaced by connective tissue if cell is
tubules lost
 MYOFILAMENTS
 Like striated muscle that REFERENCES:
fills sarcoplasm 1. Lecture Notes
 Thin filament: actin and 2. PPT
tropomyosin (no 3. Gonzales E. Esteban and Gonzales’ textbook of
troponin) histology. 5th ed. Quezon City: C & E Publishing.
o Anchored on 2014.
dense bodies
that are
attached to
sarcolemma
and network of
intermediate
filaments
(desmin)
 Thick filament: myosin
o scattered all
over cytoplasm
 Do not form myofibrils
nor sarcomeres
 Bundles criss-cross
obliquely forming lattice-
like networks that allow
actin overlap and
greater degree of
contraction

SMOOTH MUSCLE TISSUE (CONTRACTION)

 thin filaments also slide past thick filaments
 Shortening occurs in all directions because the
attachment of dense bodies do not form straight
lines
 Ca++ ions
o Initiate contraction

TRANSCRIBERS: Dra. Camille Francesca Simon, Dra. Noreen Gaile Macaraeg, Dra. Rose Lyn Vega
SUBTRANSHEADS: Dr. Jeff Daniel Lauron 5 OF 5