TYPES OF MUSCLE

CONTRACTION

Dr.Rafah Sami ,PhD

 Muscular contraction is classified into two
types based on change in the length of muscle
fibers or tension of the muscle:
1. Isotonic contraction
2. Isometric contraction.
 Isotonic Contraction
 Isotonic contraction is the type of muscular
contraction in which the tension remains the
same and the length of the muscle fiber is
altered
 (Iso = same: Tonic = tension). Example is the
simple flexion of arm, where shortening of
muscle fibers occurs but the tension does not
change.
 Isometric Contraction
 Isometric contraction is the type of muscular
contraction in which the length of muscle
fibers remains the same and the tension is
increased.
 Example is pulling any heavy object when
muscles become stiff and strained with
increased tension but the length does not
changed
2. Tetanus

Tetanus is defined as the sustained contraction

of muscle due to repeated stimuli with high
frequency.
When the multiple stimuli are applied at a
higher frequency in such a way that the
successive stimuli fall during contraction period
of previous twitch, the muscle remains in state
of tetanus, i.e. all the contractions are fused.
The muscle relaxes only after the stoppage of
stimulus or when the muscle is fatigued
REFRACTORY PERIOD

 Refractory period is the period at which the

muscle does not show any response to a
stimulus. It is because already one action
potential is in progress and the muscle is in
depolarized state during this period. The
muscle is unexcitable to further stimulation
until it is repolarized. Refractory period is of
two types:
 1. Absolute refractory period
 2. Relative refractory period
 1. Absolute Refractory Period
Absolute refractory period is the period during
which the muscle does not show any response at
all, whatever may be the strength of stimulus.
 2. Relative Refractory Period

Relative refractory period is the period, during

which the muscle shows some response if the
strength of stimulus is increased to maximum
 Neuromuscular junction is the junction
between the terminal branch of the nerve fiber
and muscle fiber.
 STRUCTURE
 Skeletal muscle fibers are innervated by the
motor nerve fibers. Each nerve fiber (axon)
divides into many terminal branches. Each
 terminal branch innervates one muscle fiber
through the neuromuscular junction .
Axon Terminal and Motor Endplate

 Terminal branch of nerve fiber is called axon terminal.

When the axon comes close to the muscle fiber, it loses
the myelin sheath. So, the
 axis cylinder is exposed. This portion of the axis
cylinder is expanded like a bulb which is called motor
endplate
RELEASE OF ACETYLCHOLINE

When the action potential reaches the axon

terminal, it opens the voltage gated calcium
channels in the membrane of the axon terminal.
Calcium ions enter the axon terminal from
extracellular fluid and cause bursting of the
vesicles. Now, acetylcholine is released from
the vesicles and diffuses through presynaptic
membrane and enters the synaptic cleft.
FATE OF ACETYLCHOLINE

 Acetylcholine released into the synaptic cleft is

destroyed very quickly within one millisecond
by the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase. However,
the acetylcholine is so potent, that even this
short duration of 1 millisecond is sufficient to
excite the muscle fiber. The rapid destruction
of acetylcholine is functionally significant
because it prevents repeated excitation of the
muscle fiber and allows the muscle to relax
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY –

 DISORDERS OF NEUROMUSCULARJUNCTION
The disorders of neuromuscular junction
includes:
1. Myasthenia gravis
2. Eaton-Lambert syndrome.
1. MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
 Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder

of neuromuscular junction caused by

antibodies to cholinergic receptors. It is
characterized by grave weakness of the muscle
due to the inability of neuromuscular junction
to transmit impulses from nerve to the muscle.
2. EATON-LAMBERT SYNDROME
 Eaton-Lambert syndrome is also an

autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular

junction. It is caused by antibodies to calcium
channels in axon terminal. This disease is
characterized by features of myasthenia
gravis. In addition the patients have blurred
vision and dry mouth