Skeletal Muscle

Structure

Muscles with fine, highly controlled movements (eye muscles)- small fasciculi Muscles with gross movements (biceps) - large fasciculi. Contraction of skeletal muscle is controlled by large motor nerves.

Structure of a Muscle Fibre

A muscle fibre- an elongated cylindrical structure varying in length and diameter(10-100 wide about 35 cm. long). A single fibre may stretch from one end to the other contains many nuclei (multinucleated).

Microscopic appearance
A muscle fibre appears circular, elliptical or polygonal in a cross section diameter of 10-100. Nuclei are seen at the periphery beneath the sarcolemma.

In the Sarcoplasm

longitudinally arranged thread like structures, myofibrils - about 1mm in diameter.

Between the myofibrils- organelles, glycogen

sarcoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lipid vacuoles are in the perinuclear cytoplasm

Under the LM

A muscle fibre is traversed by cross striations they appear continuous across the fibre. These striations vary in their staining and optical properties. They are seen as dark and light bands (with H&E)

Under the LM

Light bands - isotropic or I bands (J) Dark bands- anisotropic or A (Q) I bands rotate plane of polarization of light weakly. A bands strongly rotate plane of polarization

Structure

The I bands are bisected transversely by a thin darkly staining Z band (Krauses membrane)

A band is bisected by a paler H band (Hensens line).

Structure

between two Z bands - sarcomere contractile unit of a muscle about 2.5 in a resting muscle. myofibrilsA myofibril is composed of a number of longitudinally arranged myofilaments.

Myofibrils-Myofilaments

A myofibril is composed of a number of longitudinally arranged myofilaments. myofilaments- are limited to a sarcomere. do not extend along the entire length of a sarcomere. two types of myo-filaments actin and myosin.

Myofilaments

Actin filamentsare fine, 5 in diameter made up of protein actin. Myosin filamentsare thicker with a diameter of 12 contain myosin.

Sarcomere

actin filaments- attached at one end to the Z band - limit of a sarcomere. myosin filaments- found in the centre of the sarcomere. one end of actin filaments interdigitate with myosin filaments. The myosin filaments do not reach the Z band. On each side of the Z band there are only actin filaments. This is the I band

Sarcomere

Adjacent to the I band actin and myosin filaments interdigitate. This is the A band. In the center only myosin filaments are present. This is the H band. Fine strands interconnecting adjacent myosin filaments lie transversely across the H band. These are the M bands

Sarcomere

The pattern of banding is apparent in a relaxed muscle. On contraction the I and H bands narrow and disappear. The A band remains unchanged

Sarcomere

Sarcomere

When Contracts

When a muscle contracts the actin filaments slide in relation to the myosin filament towards the center of the sarcomere. Z bands are brought close together.
there is a shortening of the sarcomere. Lateral projections of the myosin filament connecting to active sites on the actin filaments

When Contracts

cross bridges return to their original position to allow another contraction to occur. If a sarcomere contracts to less than 2mm the actin filaments overlap in the middle of the band. With still further contraction the Z bands meet the myofilaments - a contraction band is formed.

The Tubular System

a system of tubular invaginations of the sarcolemma- extend transversely between the myofibrils. transverse centro-tubules or T system enter at the level of A - I band. sarcoplasmic reticulum can bind Ca ions.

The Tubular System

An electrical disturbance in the T systemreleases Ca ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum - activation of the myosin bound ATPconsequent contraction of the muscle

Types - Type I

slow fibres,found in postural muscles.

are suited to a slow but repetitive type of contraction with sustained tonic forces.

fibres are narrower than fast fibres.

have poorly defined myofibrils with thick Z bands.

obtain energy by aerobic metabolism

rich in mitochondria and oxidative enzymes poor in phosphorylases

Type II Fast Fibres

produce rapid contractions occur in large scale movements of the body. have fewer mitochondria more extensive sarcoplasmic reticulum and thin Z bands. They are poor in oxidative enzymes rich in phosphorylases. obtain their energy by glycolytic respiration.

Cardiac vs Skeletal Muscle

T-tubule system similar:

T-tubules -at the level of the Z-line no triads

sarcoplasmic reticulum not well developed

no terminal cisterns formed. ionic coupling through gap junctions regulates contraction