Laudino, Francis Jose R.

BSN - I

Muscular System
Reading and Comprehension
Questions:

1. List the seven major functions of the muscular system.

2. Define contractility, excitability, extensibility, and elasticity.
3. List the connective tissue layers associated with muscles.
4. What are fasciculi?
5. What is a muscle fiber?
6. Explain the relevance of the structural relationship among sarcomeres, T tubules, and the
sarcoplasmic reticulum.
7. What is sarcomere?
8. Describe the composition of a myofibril. Describe the structure of actin and myosin filaments.
9. Explain the resting membrane potential and how it is produced.
10. Describe the production of an action potential.
11. What is neuromuscular junction? What happens there?
12. Describe the sliding filament model of muscle contraction.
13. Explain how an action potential results in muscle contraction.
14. Define muscle twitch, tetanus, and recruitment.
15. Describe the two ways energy is produced in skeletal muscle.
16. Explain fatigue.
17. Compare isometric, isotonic, concentric, and eccentric contraction.
18. What is muscle tone?
19. Compare slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibers.
20. How do smooth muscles and cardiac muscles differ from skeletal muscles?
21. Define origin, insertion, agonist, antagonist, synergist, prime mover, and fixator.

Answers:

1.) The seven major functions of the muscular system are:

 Movement of the body
 Maintenance of Posture
 Respiration
 Production of body heat
 Communication
 Constriction of organs & vessels
 Contraction of the heart
2.) Define: (Contractility, Excitability, Extensibility, Elasticity)
 Contractility – ability of muscle to shorten forcefully, or contract.
 Excitability – capability of muscle to respond to a stimulus.
 Extensibility – a muscle can be stretched beyond its normal resting length and still be
able to contract.
 Elasticity – Ability of muscle to recoil to its original resting length after being stretched.
3.) Connective Tissue Layers: (Associated with muscles)
 Epimysium – connective tissue sheath that surrounds each skeletal muscle
 Perimysium – separates muscle fascicles (subdivided numerous bundles in each whole
muscle) from each other
 Endomysium – surrounds each muscle fiber (subdivided separate muscle cells in each
fascicle)
4.) Fasciculi are a band / bundle of nerve or muscle fibers bound together by associated
connective tissue.
5.) Muscle fiber is a single cylindrical cell with several nuclei located at its periphery.
6.) The relevance of their structural relationship is that they are interconnected to one purpose
that is muscle contraction. Sarcomere a basic structural and functional unit of a skeletal
muscle, the smallest portion of a skeletal muscle capable of contracting. Sarcoplasmic
reticulum plays a major role in muscle contraction as they are associated with the T tubules
in the surface of the muscle fiber.
7.) Sarcomere is the basic structural and functional unit of a skeletal muscle because it is the
smallest portion of a skeletal muscle capable of contracting.
8.) Myofibrils are composed of two major kinds of protein fibers; Actin and Myosin
myofilaments.
 Actin Myofilament(s) – Thin myofilaments that resemble two minute strands of pearls
twisted together. The actin strands have attachment sites for myosin myofilaments.
 Myosin Myofilament(s) – Thick myofilaments that resemble bundles of tiny golf dubs.
9.) Resting membrane potential a charge difference across the cell membrane of an
unstimulated (resting) cell. It is produced when K+ diffuses down to its gradient (out of the
cell) through the open K+ channels making the inside of the cell membrane negatively
charged compared to the outside.
10.) Action potential is rapid change in charge across the cell membrane. It is produced when a
Na+ diffuses down to its gradient (into the cell) through the open Na+ channels making the
inside of the cell membrane positively charged compared to the outside.
11.) Neuromuscular junction is a synaptic junction between a nerve axon and a muscle fiber. In
this junction a motor neuron transmits a signal to the muscle fiber for the muscle to
contract.
12.) The sliding filament model of muscle contraction is the process of muscle contraction
where actin myofilaments slide past myosin myofilaments during contraction. During
contraction the actin myofilaments on each side of the sarcomere move into the H zone,
shortening. However the lengths of actin and myosin myofilaments are unchanged.
13.) Action potential results in muscle contraction since action potential is an impulse, a signal
generated by the nervous system when muscle contraction begins.
14.) Define:
 Muscle twitch – is a single contraction of a muscle fiber in response to a stimulus.
 Tetanus – is a sustained contraction that occurs when the frequency of stimulation is so
rapid that no relaxation occurs.
 Recruitment – In recruitment, more motor units are stimulated, which increases the
total number of muscle fibers contracting. Thus, muscle contracts with more force.
15.) Within the skeletal muscle there are two ways wherein energy is produced, the aerobic and
anaerobic respiration.
16.) Fatigue is a temporary state of reduced work capacity. Without fatigue, muscle fibers would
be worked to the point of structural damage to them and their supportive tissues.
17.) The difference between the four types of muscle contractions are their functions;
 Isometric contraction – Tension increases, but muscle length stays the same.
 Isotonic contraction – Tension remains the same, but muscle length decreases.
o Concentric contraction – a type of Isotonic contraction where the tension
increases as the muscle shortens
o Eccentric contraction – a type of isotonic contraction where the tension is
maintained in a muscle but the opposing resistance causes the muscle to
lengthen.
18.) Muscle tone is the constant tension produced by body muscles over long periods of time. It
is responsible for keeping the back and legs straight, the head in an upright position, and the
abdomen from bulging.
19.) Slow-twitch fibers are suited for aerobic respiration whereas fast-twitch fibers are adapted
for anaerobic respiration. Large postural muscles contain more slow-twitch fibers whereas
muscles of the upper limb contain more fast-twitch fibers.
20.) The difference between smooth & cardiac muscles from skeletal muscle is their activity
smooth and cardiac muscles is spontaneous and involuntary while skeletal muscle is
voluntary because they can be controlled by the conscious mind.
21.) Define:
 Origin – is the most stationary or fixed end of the muscle.
 Insertion – IS the end of the muscle attached to the bone undergoing the greatest
movement.
 Agonist – a muscle in a state of contraction, with reference to its opposing muscle or
antagonist.
 Antagonist – a muscle that works in opposition to another muscle or the agonist.
 Synergist – a muscle that works with another muscle to cause a movement.
 Prime mover – a muscle that plays the principal role in accomplishing a movement.
 Fixator – muscles that hold one bone in place relative to the body while a usually more
distal bone is moved.