Muscle Contraction

*Blok Dermatomuscular System-K4*

Dept.Fisiologi FK USU
Prof. Yasmeiny Yazir
dr.Nuraiza Meutia,M.Biomed
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Morphology of Skeletal Muscle

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 Sarcotubular system :
Structur of membrane
surounding the musle
fibrils, consist of :
 T tubules : are
continuous with the
sarcolemma
 Sarcoplasmic reticulum
: functions in the
regulation of
intracellular calcium
movement
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Dystrophin – Glycoprotein complex

 Is a complex protein function as

structural support
 Transmits the force generated by
contraction to cytoskeleton
 Congenital defect in this complex
can cause many forms of muscular
dystrophy.
(See figure 3.4 in Ganong)

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Electrical phenomena & ionic fluxes
 Electrical characteristics of skeletal muscle :
 Resting membrane potential : - 90 mV
 Duration of Action Potential : 2-4 ms
 Speed of conduction : ± 5 m/s
 Absolut refractory period : 1-3 ms

 Ionic fluxes :
 Na+ influx → depolarization
 K+ efflux → repolarization

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 Contractile responses

Stimulation

Depolarization at Action
motor end-plate potential
muscle fiber

contractile
response
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Single A.P → single contraction = muscle twitch
Skeletal Muscle Contraction
 In order to contract, a skeletal muscle must be
stimulated by a nerve ending of the somatic
nervous system
 Axons of this neurons branch profusely as they
enter muscles
 Each axonal branch forms a neuromuscular
junction with a single muscle fiber

 When a nerve impulse reaches the end of an

axon at the neuromuscular junction, ACh release
to the synaptic cleft.
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Neuromuscular Junction

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Skeletal Muscle Contraction, cont
 ACh diffuses across the synaptic cleft to
ACh receptors on the sarcolemma

 Binding of ACh to its receptors initiates

an action potential in the muscle.

 The process by which depolarization of

the muscle fiber initiates contraction is
called Excitation-Contraction coupling.
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Molecular basis of contraction :
1. Acetylcholin initiates A.P in muscle cell →
propagated to entire surface of muscle cell
membrane.
2. The surface electric activity caried into the
muscle fiber by the T tubules.
3. A.P in the T tubules trigers Ca2+ release from
sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)
4. Ca2+ bind to troponin (on actin filament) → leads
to tropomyosin moved aside → uncover actin’s
cross-bridge binding sites.

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 Sequential Events of Contraction
Myosin head
(high-energy
configuration)

1 Myosin cross bridge attaches to

the actin myofilament
Thin filament

Thick ADP and Pi (inorganic

filament phosphate) released

4 As ATP is split into ADP and Pi, 2 Working stroke—the myosin head pivots and
cocking of the myosin head occurs bends as it pulls on the actin filament, sliding it
toward the M line

Myosin head
(low-energy
configuration)

3 As new ATP attaches to the myosin

head, the cross bridge detaches 149.11
Figure
Molecular basis of contraction.cont :
5. Myosin cross-bridges attach to actin &
bend, producing a power stroke pulling
actin filaments toward center of
sarcomere (previously, myosin have been
energized by the splitting of ATP into ADP
+Pi + energy by myosin ATPase, site on
the cross-bridge)

6. Inward sliding of all the thin filaments

(actin) surounding a thick filament
(myosin) shortens the sarcomere / cause
muscle contraction. 15
 Molecular basis of contraction.cont :
7. Pi & ADP is released from the cross-bridge
after the power stroke is complete.
8. New ATP attach → permits separation of the
cross-bridge → return to its original conformation
9. Splitting of ATP by myosin ATPase energizes the
cross-bridge once again.

10. If Ca2+ still present so that the troponin-tropomyosin

complex remain pulled aside : the cross-bridge go
through another cycle of binding & bending, pulling the
thin filament in even further.
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Types of
Contraction

Isotonic contraction
Muscle tension remains constant as the
muscle changes length.

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Isometric contraction
Muscle is prevented from shortening,
tension developed at constant muscle
length.
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Factors influence tension of
contraction

1. The frequency of stimulation

2. The length of the fiber at the onset
of contraction
3. The extent of fatique
4. The thickness of the fiber.

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The effect of frequency of stimulation
 Summation of contraction ;
repeated stimulation (before relaxation has
occurred) → additional activation of the
contractile elements → greater tension
developed.

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 Tetanic contraction ;
rapidly repeated stimulation, no relaxation has
occurred → continuous contraction.
 Complete tetanus
 Incomplete tetanus

 Treppe ; an increase in the tension developed

during each twitch until, after several
contractions, a uniform tension per
contraction is reached.

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Relation between muscle length, tension &
velocity of contraction
 Maximum tension produce if length of the
fiber at the onset of contraction is normal
(resting length)
 If the muscle is stretched (longer) or shorter,
the active tension & total tension will
reduced.
 The velocity of muscle contraction is maximal
at the resting length, & declines if the muscle
get shorter or longer.
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(see fig. 3.11 in Ganong)

 Source of energy for muscle contraction

 Muscle use ATP for :

 Cross-bridge binding & separation
 Pumping Ca2+ from sarcoplasma into SR
 Pumping Na+ & K+ through the cell membrane

 ATP is sufficient to maintain full contraction for 1-2 s

(ATP→ADP+Pi+energy)

 Several source of energy for rephosphorylation is:

1. Phosphorylcreatine
2. Glycogen
3. Oxidative metabolism
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Muscle Fatigue
 Muscle fatigue – the muscle is in a state of
physiological inability to contract

 Muscle fatigue occurs when:

 ATP production fails to keep pace with ATP use
 There is a relative deficit of ATP, causing
contractures
 Lactic acid accumulates in the muscle
 Ionic imbalances are present

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Rigor

When muscle fiber are completely

depleted of ATP &
Phosphorylcreatine, relaxation does
not occur → a state rigidity.

When this occur after death → rigor

mortis.

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Heat Production During Muscle Activity

 Only 40% of the energy released in

muscle activity is useful as work
 The remaining 60% is given off as
heat
 Dangerous heat levels are
prevented by radiation of heat from
the skin and sweating

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The thickness of the fiber
The force of contraction is affected by:
 The number of muscle fibers contracting – the
more motor fibers in a muscle, the stronger
the contraction
 The relative size of the muscle – the bulkier
the muscle, the greater its strength

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