Negrete, A: Muscle Research

Muscle Research Paper

by
Anthony Negrete
Final Exam for Physiology
Westminster High School, HBUHSD
Ms. Graham
January 18, 2015

Research
Types of Muscle
Contrary to what one might believe, our bodies are not simply made of one muscle type.

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

In fact, there are three types of muscle that make up the human body. Skeletal muscles are made
up of cylindrical multinucleate cells, which contain striations. These are voluntary muscles
(consciously controlled) that attach to the bodys skeleton. Another type of muscle is a cardiac
muscle. A cardiac muscle is a specialized muscle of the heart Marieb (2007). The final type of
muscle is the smooth muscle. Smooth muscles contain spindle-shaped cells with a central
nucleus, which contain no striations Marieb (2007). They are mainly located along the walls of
hollow organs.
Functional Characteristics of Muscles
Contractility refers to the ability of a muscle to contract . Extensibility is the ability to be
stretched or compressed. Elasticity is the ability of a muscle to return to its original state after
being stretched Marieb (2007). An excitation-contraction coupling is the link between the
generation of action potential in the sarcolemma and the start of a muscle contraction Martini
(2014).
Functions of Skeletal Muscle Tissue
Skeletal muscle tissues functions include to produce skeletal movement, maintain
posture and position, support soft tissue, guard body entrances and exits, maintain body
temperature, and to store nutrients.
Cardiac muscle tissue have the ability to contract without neural stimulation
(automaticity), and make contractions last 10 times as long as that of skeletal muscle fibers.
There are specialized specialized cells (pacemaker cells) that determine the timing of
contractions However, this muscle tissue cannot produce tetanic contractions
Smooth muscle tissue able to function over a wide range of lengths (plasticity refers to
this range). Multiunit smooth muscle cells and visceral muscle cells control contractions

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

throughout the body. This muscle tissue also regulates blood flow into vessels from capillaries.
Smooth muscle tissues are able contract or relax based upon responses to chemical, hormonal,
concentrations of oxygen or carbon dioxide, and physical factors (such as extreme stretching or
irritation) Martini (2014).
Fiber Direction
Banding pattern (also known as striation) arises from orderly arrangement of two types
structures, myofilaments and filaments. The two types of bands are the A band and the I band.
The A band contains the M line, the H line, and the zone of overlap. The M line, found at the
center of the A band, contain proteins that that help stabilize the positions of thick filaments
Martini (2014). The H line is found at the sides of the A band and do not contain thin filaments.
The zone of overlap is the location of where thin filaments are in between the thick filaments.
The I band contains the Z lines and the elastic protein tintin. The Z lines interconnect the thin
filaments of nearby sarcomeres Martini (2014).
Types of Contractions
Isotonic contractions are contractions in which the muscle shortens with a constant
tension Marieb (2007). An example of an isotonic contraction would be lifting a weight. The
muscle shortens accordingly due the constant tension of holding the weight due to either
abduction or adduction. An isometric contraction is a contraction in which the muscle does not
shorten, but internal tension increases Martini (2014). An example of an isometric contraction
would be pulling up on a table. Force is being applied to the table, however the table does not
move. This means that internal tension is increasing throughout the body, but the muscles do not
shorten. A concentric contraction occurs when the muscle shortens Marieb (2007). Eccentric
contractions occur when the muscle elongates while under tension. Range of Motion refers to the

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

possible field of motion the muscles can act upon.

Force of Muscle Contraction
Hypertrophy refers to the increase in size of muscle cells. Internal tension stretches the
series (noncontractile) components. External tension transfers the tension to the load. When it
ends, their recoil aids in the return the muscle to its resting length.
Velocity and Duration of Contraction
The speed (velocity) of the contraction depends upon how fast or slow the fibers are.
Slow oxidative fibers, which primarily rely on oxygen, use aerobic pathways for ATP generation.
These fibers are thin, have many mitochondria, and contain a rich capillary supply. Oxidative
fibers are thin and red. Fast glycolytic fibers, which rely on glycogen reserves, do not use
oxygen. There are few mitochondria and myoglobin. These fibers contain a low capillary density.
Unlike oxidative fibers, glycolytic fibers are large and white.
Muscle Relaxation
The most important ion used in muscle relaxation is magnesium. In the body, magnesium
has the responsibility as a gatekeeper of passageways. The following is the process of muscle
relaxation from beginning to end.
1. ATP
2. Magnesium
3. Calcium
4. Synapse
5. ATP
6. Magnesium
7. Motor End Plate
8. Sodium and Potassium
9. Depolarization
10. ATP channels open
11. Magnesium
12. Movement through channels
13. Calcium ions attach
14. Triponen

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

15. Myolin filaments slide

16. Muscle Contraction
17. Muscle Relaxation
Magnesium deficiency can cause issue with the process. Sources of magnesium
deficiency include high stress and a poor diet. The best way to resolve the issue is to the source,
or else a vicious cycle could commence with the result being increased magnesium deficiency.

Muscle Fatigue Laboratory

Problem
How does our muscles fatigue over time in response to different actions?
Data
At Rest

The following graph shows my hand at rest. In order to be successful, I had to be

absolutely still. However even at rest, there are still electrical impulses as seen on the graph by
being steady at one. The only time there would be no electrical impulses is when a person is

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

dead.
Grip and Ungrip

The gripping and release of the object shows a sudden increase in electrical impulses and
then a decline during the brief release stage. Once again, with the release of the object the
impulse it does not reach zero. An increase of the force used during the gripping process is
shown on the graph as a large spike.

Muscle Fatigue

This graph shows the muscle fatigue over time when gripping the object. The object
needed to be gripped with all appropriate strength to get a good look into the muscle fatigue. The
impulses start off very strongly, but show a significant decrease at around 60 seconds.

Hand Signatures Laboratory

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

Problem:
How differently does the signature appear the longer the hand in ice cold water?
Data:
Signature

As my hand warmed up, I was surprised to see that my signatures were not better that my
frst. I assume they are slightly worse because it took some time to bring my hand under control
in order to write again. Naturally, my signature was worse the colder my hand was. After three
minutes of agony, my signature looks as if I was learning to write my name all over again.

Hand After Two Minutes

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

Usually, the palms of my hands are quite red. So, it is a bit difficult to see just how red
my hand really was. The center of my palm stayed white, but the area surrounding it (especially
my thumb) were a dark red.
Hand After Three Minutes

After five minutes, the center of my palm was still whitish. However, the area
surrounding it turned darker. My ring and middle finger joined my thumb in its redness.
Surprisingly, the pinkie finger was not as red as I would have thought.

Negrete, A: Muscle Research

Bibliography
Marieb E., & Hoehn, K. (2007). Muscles and muscle tissue., Human anatomy and physiology
(7th ed., chapter 9). San Francisco: Pearson Education Inc.
Martini, F. (2014). Muscle tissue. In Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology (10th ed., chapter
10). San Francisco: Pearson Education Inc.