PHYSIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

SKELETAL MUSCLES SMOOTH MUSCLES

Striation
Cells are striated. Cells are not striated.
Fibers
Fibers larger than those in smooth muscles. Fibers smaller than those in skeletal muscles.
Attachment
Ends of actin filament are attached to Z disc. Ends of actin filament are attached to dense
bodies.
Sarcomere
Sarcomere is present. No sarcomere is present.
Myosin ATPase
Myosin ATPase activity is very fast. Myosin ATPase activity is very slow.
Initiation Of Contraction
The initiation of contraction in response to The initiation of contraction in response to calcium
calcium ions is much faster than in smooth ions is much slower than in skeletal muscles.
muscles.
Regulatory Hormone
Troponin is the regulatory protein that binds Calmodulin is the regulatory protein that binds
calcium. calcium.
Cross Bridge
Cross bridges remain attached to the actin Fraction of time that the cross bridges remain
filament for a short fraction of time. attached is greatly increases.
Gap Junction
No gap junctions are present. Gap junctions are present.
Level Of Control
Skeletal muscles are voluntary. Smooth muscles are involuntary.
Source Of Calcium
Source of calcium is Sarcoplasmic reticulum. Source of calcium is sarcoplasmic reticulum and
ECF.
Membrane Potential
Membrane potential in resting stage is -90 Membrane potential in resting stage is about -50 to
mV. -60mV.
Force Of Muscle Contraction
The force of muscles contraction is 3 to 4 It is greater than that of skeletal muscles as great
Kg /cm2. as 4 to 5 Kg/cm2.
Stress Relaxation Response
They inhibit stress _relaxation response. They exhibit stress_ relaxation response.
Voltage Gated Channels
They have more voltage gated sodium They have far more voltage gated calcium channels
channels and very few voltage gated calcium and very few voltage gated sodium channels.
channels.
Depolarization
Depolarization cannot occur without action Multi-unit smooth muscles can depolarize without
potential. action potential.
 Latch Mechanism
There is no latch mechanism for prolong There is latch mechanism for prolong holding of
holding of contraction of skeletal muscles. contraction of smooth muscles.
Energy Consumption
Energy consumed to maintain contraction is The energy consumed to maintain contraction is
300 times greater than the comparable miniscule due to latch mechanism.
smooth muscles.
Neuroeffector Junction
The vesicles of the autonomic nerve fiber Forms so called diffused junctions nerve fibers
ending contains acetylcholine in some fibers innervate the outer layer and varicosities
and norepinephrine in other fibers. distributed along there.