Muscle Tissue

Thomas A. Marino, Ph.D.

Temple University

Competencies: Upon completion of this

section of the course you must be able to:
Recall the connective tissue components of skeletal muscle.
Define the role of different organelles in the skeletal muscle
cell.
Define the sarcomere and its compenents.
Recall how the components of the sarcomere bring about
contraction.
Understand the sources of energy used by muscle cells.
Recall the steps involved in skeletal, cardiac and smooth
muscle contraction.
Define the myoneural junction and the role of nerves in
muscle contraction.
Define the components of the muscle spindle and how they
contribute to the function of this sensory receptor.
Compare and contrast cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle.
Define the components of the intercalated disc.

Muscle
The basic function of muscle cells is
contraction.
Contraction is based upon the interaction
of actin and myosin filaments.
Muscle cells also can exhibit stretch and
elasticity.
There are three types of muscle:
Skeletal
Cardiac
Smooth

Skeletal Muscle
A muscle (ex. Biceps) is surrounded by an
epimysium
It is made up of connective tissue

A perimysium subdivides a muscle into

fascicles.
It is also made up of connective tissue

Within a fascicle are groups of muscle cells

(fibers).
Each muscle cell (fiber) is surrounded by an
endomysium.
This is an external (basal) lamina plus reticular fibers

Skeletal Muscle
Epimysium

Endomysium

Perimysium
Fascicle
Muscle
Nuclei
Fiber

Myofibril

Skeletal Muscle
Function of connective tissue elements:
Transport nerves, blood vessels,
lymphatics
Freedom of motion between fascicles and
between fibers.
Attachment of muscles to:
Bone via tendons
Other connective tissue elements. (i.e. Tongue)

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal Muscle
The basic unit of muscle is the
muscle cell or fiber.
The basic unit of contraction is the
sarcomere.

A A A

Z Z

Skeletal Muscle

H
M

Skeletal Muscle
Z

M
actin

myosin myosin actin

H
I

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Thick filaments are composed of:

Over 200 myosin molecules

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Myosin molecule is composed of

Two heavy chains
Four light chains (2 Pairs)

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Heavy chains wrap around each other in

helix

Heavy chains divided into:

Light meromyosin

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Light Meromyosin responsible for proper thick

filament assembly

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Heavy meromyosin divided into

Two globular heads S1
Two rod segments S2

Skeletal Muscle
Heavy
Meromyosin

S1

Light
Meromyosin

S2
Light Chain

Binding of ATP occurs at S1 fragment

Where cross bridges occur between actin and
myosin.

Skeletal Muscle
There are different types of myosin:
There are various isoforms.
The type of isoform determines how
myosin interacts with actin.
Embryonic myosin
Newborn myosin
Adult myosin
Changes in response to the load placed
upon the muscle.

Skeletal Muscle
troponinItroponinT
troponinC

F actin

tropomyosin

F actin is the polymer of G (globular) actin

Actin has a plus and minus end
Minus end attaches to actinin to attach to Z
disk.

Skeletal Muscle
troponinItroponinT
troponinC

F actin

tropomyosin

Thin filament is two chains of F actin wound

around each other.

Skeletal Muscle

Tropomyosin lies in grooves between actin

strands.
Blocks active sites on actin.

Skeletal Muscle

Troponin molecules:
Troponin I
Troponin C
Troponin T

Skeletal Muscle

Troponin T binds troponin molecule to

tropomyosin
Troponin I binds the molecule to actin.
Troponin C binds calcium
Binding of calcium causes shift in

Skeletal Muscle
A

I
Z

actin

M
myosin myosin actin

M = myomesin, C protein, creatine

kinase for myosin registration

Skeletal Muscle
A

I
Z

actin

M
myosin myosin actin

= titin, four elastic titin

molecules anchor a thick filament to the

Skeletal Muscle
A

I
Z

actin

M
myosin myosin actin

= nebulin, a non-elastic protein that

wraps around a thin filament and anchors it to the z line

Skeletal Muscle
A

I
Z

actin

M
myosin myosin actin

Z line has alpha actinin that binds thin filaments in

parallel arrays.

Skeletal Muscle
A

I
Z

actin

M
myosin myosin actin

desmin
H
vimentin
vimentin
actinin, vimentin, and desmin keep Z lines in
registration between myofibrils.

Skeletal Muscle
T tubules are
invaginations of
the sarcolemma
(plasma
membrane).
The T tubules
surround the
myofibrills.

Skeletal Muscle
In skeletal
muscle T
tubules are
located at the
junction of the
A and I bands.
T tubules bring
the
depolarization
wave deep into
the muscle cell.

T tubule

Skeletal Muscle
Sarcoplasmic
reticulum is
the smooth
endoplasmic
reticulum of
skeletal
muscle cells
Stores calcium
Found around
myofibrils
Have cisternae
adjacent to T
tubules.

SR

T tubule

Skeletal muscle
SR surrounds
myofibrils
Sequesters
calcium and
muscle relaxes.
Depolarization
wave carried by T
tubules causes
opening of
calcium channels
in SR.
Muscle contracts.

Skeletal Muscle
Mitochondri
a provide
the energy
source for
contraction.

Skeletal Muscle
Three types of energy for contraction:
1. ATP and Phosphocreatine have high
energy bonds and provide energy for 9
seconds of maximal msucle activity.
2. Anaerobic metabolism of glycogen
provides another 1 minutes of
maximal muscle activity.(produces lactic
acid)
3. Aerobic energy system which uses
normal diet for production of ATP and
supports activity indefinitely but not at
the maximal level.

Skeletal Muscle
Fast Contracting Muscle

Slow Contracting Muscle

White

Red

Poorer Blood Supply

Rich Blood Supply

Heavily myelinated neurons

Lightly myelinated neurons

Fast strong contractions

easily fatigued

Slow weaker repetitive

contractions

Fewer Mitochondria

not easily fatigued

Lots of mitochondria

Rich in ATP and phophorylases

Rich in oxidative enzymes

Skeletal Muscle
1. Impulse generated along sarcolemma
2. Impulse convey along T Tubules to SR.
3. Calcium released through voltage-gated
calcium channels.
4. Calcium binds to the TnC subunits of
Troponin
5. Changes in troponin change the
tropomyosin position on the actin molecule.

Skeletal Muscle
6. ATP on the S1 fragment of myosin is
hydrolyzed
7. ADP, Phosphate and S1 fragment bind to
actin.
8. Phosphate is released and S1 fragment
altered
9. ADP released and thin filament in moved
toward M line
10. ATP binds to S1 fragment and actin
releases from myosin.

Skeletal Muscle
Impulse for contraction
Arrives via nerves.
Arrives at the myoneural
(neuromuscular) junction
Motor neuron innervates one or more
muscle fibers
Neuron and muscle fiber(s) = motor unit

Skeletal Muscle
Motor end plate is
where axons meet
muscle cell.

 These images are

pseudocoloured
(green=CFP; red=TRITC-bungarotoxin) of a motor
axon and nerve terminal in a
transgenic mouse expressing
CFP under the control of the
thy1 promoter. Argon laser,
457 line to excite CFP; Green
HeNe to excite TRITC).
Radiance 2000 system
Acknowlegement
R.R. Ribchester, T.H.
Gillingwater and D.
ThomsonDepartment of
Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh

Skeletal Muscle
The axon ends
at the motor
end plate
where
acetylcholine
is released
from the
synaptic
vesicles.

Axon
terminal

Synaptic vesicles

Synaptic cleft
Postsynaptic memb

Skeletal Muscle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

Action potential travel

down axon
Ca influx into the axon
terminal.
Synaptic Vesicles fuse with
presynaptic membrane.
Acetylcholine released into
synaptic cleft.
Acetylcholine binds to
acetylcholine receptor on
the postsynaptic terminal.
Influx of ions leads to
depolarizaton of
sarcolemma

Skeletal Muscle
7.

8.

9.

Acetlycholinesterase in
synaptic clefts breaks
down acetylcholine
Choline is taken back
up by the axon via a
sodiu-choline symport
protein.
Membrane reclaimed.

Skeletal Muscle
Regulation of
Muscle
Contraction
The stretch
reflex
Muscle spindles
as a sensory
receptor.
Provides
feedback on the
state of a
muscle.

EFMF

EFMF

EFMF

EFMF

EFMF

Ia
II
MN
MN

MN

EFMF

Ib

EFMF

EFMF

EFMF EFMF =
extrafusal
muscle
fiber
Innervated
by motor
neurons
Cause
contraction

EFMF

EFMF

Ia
II
MN
MN

MN

EFMF

MS
EFMF

EFMF

EFMF
N
B

Ia
II
MN
MN

N
C

MN

EFMF

EFMF

Ib GTO

EFMF

MS = muscle
spindle
NC = nuclear
chain fiber
NB = nuclear
bag fiber.
Detect
changes in
muscle
length
GTO = Golgi
tendon
organ

MS
EFMF

EFMF

EFMF
N
B

Ia
II
MN
MN

N
C

MN

EFMF

EFMF

Ib

GTO

EFMF

Intrafusal
muscle
fibers are
innervated
by motor
neurons
They produce
changes in
the length
of the
intrafusal
muscle
fibers to
keep the
fiber
sensitive to
changes in

MS
EFMF

EFMF

EFMF
N
B

Ia
II
MN
MN

N
C

MN

EFMF

EFMF

Ib

GTO

EFMF

Ia fibers detect
changes in
muscle
length and
in steady
state length
of muscle
II fibers
respond to
steady state
length
Ib fibers in
GTO
respond to
tension
produced by
EFMF

Cardiac Muscle
Heart is organized with
An inner lining,
A muscular layer,
An outer connective tissue lining

Cardiac Muscle
Muscular layer is the myocardium.
Made up of cardiac muscle cells
that are:
Branched
Attach end-to-end
Are striated
Have a single (sometimes two)
nucleus

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle cells or myocytes:
Connect end-to-end via intercalated
discs.
Intercalated discs have.
Gap junctions for cell to cell communication
Fascia Adheretes for attachment of actin
filaments
Desmosomes for attaching one cell to the
next.

Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac Muscle

Desmosome

Faciae adherentes

Gap Junction

Cardiac Muscle
Action potentials travel through the
myocardium.
Exact pathway will be considered
later.
Action potentials travel from one
muscle cell to the next via gap
junctions.
Permits the synchronous and
continual beating of the myocardium.

Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac Muscle Cells.
In terms of filaments
and myofibril
organization cardiac
muscle cells similar to
skeletal muscle cells.
However they have
more mitochondria.
Glycogen and
triglycerides provide
energy for the
myocardial cells.

Cardiac Muscle
The SR is less
extensive in
cardiac muscle
cells.
Do not have
terminal cisternae.
Form dyads with T
tubules not triads.
Dyads are located
at the Z line in
cardiac muscle.

Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle cells then get Ca
for contraction from:
SR but also
T tubules
Calcium-sodium channels (slow
sodium channels)
Slow to open but let in Na plus lots of Ca

Skeletal muscle has only fast sodium

channels.

Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle cells have their
own intrinsic rhythmicity.
Increases or decreases in heart
rate are mediated by the
autonomic nervous system.

Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle cells are found along the
gastrointestinal tract respiratory tree,
urogenital ducts, and blood vessels.
These cells do not have striations.
Still rely on actin-myosin interactions for
contraction.
But smooth muscle in not under
voluntary control.

Smooth Muscle

Smooth Muscle

Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle
cells
Have a single
nucleus.
Are elliptical in
shape.
Are regulated by
nerves or
hormones.

Smooth Muscle
In smooth muscle
Actin is present
With tropomyosin but not troponin

Myosin is present
S1 heavy meromyosin heads lie along the
entire length of the thick filaments.

Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle contraction can occur over
an extended period of time.
It is also not an all or none phenomena.
Some parts of smooth muscle cells can contract
while others dont.

Actin and myosin filaments attach to

intermediate filaments:
Vimentin
Desmin
These attach to dense bodies near cell surface
Made up of actinin (like in Z disc)

Smooth Muscle

Smooth Muscle
Dense body

Caveolae

Synapse en passant

Smooth Muscle
Smooth muscle cell contraction:
1. Neurotransmitters (hormones) stimulate smooth
muscle cell
2. Calcium is released from caveolae.
3. Calcium binds to calmodulin.
4. Calmodulin/Ca complex actives myosin light chain
kinase
5. Myosin light chain kinase phosphorylates the
regulatory myosin light chain.
6. Myosin elongates and the S1 head is unmasked
7. Actin binding site is exposed
8. Actin and myosin interact.

Other factors
Factors other than calcium affect
myosin.
Hormones that can act via cAMP
Estrogens cause an increase in cAMP
Increase contraction of uterine smooth
muscle..

Progesterone causes a decrease in cAMP

Relaxes uterine smooth muscle.

Muscle
Skeletal
Muscle

Cardiac
Muscle

Smooth
Muscle

Nuclei

Multiple

One or two

One

Sarcomeres

Yes

Yes

No

T tubules

Yes with
triads

Yes with
dyads

No

Cell
Junctions

No

Intercalated
discs

Gap
junctions

Regeneration

Satellite
cells

No (?)

Yes

Mitosis

No

NO (?)

Yes

Innervation

Somatic
motor

Autonomic

Autonomic