1.

Differentiate end plate potential and skeletal muscle action potential End plate potential The magnitude of EPP depends on the stimulation of the presynaptic neuron 2. Events of skeletal muscle contraction SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS (STEPS) IN SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION I. Stimulation 1. Nerve impulse arrives at the neuromuscular junction. 2. Vesicle in the end plate of motor axon release acetylcholine which diffuses across nerve-muscle gap. 3. Acetylcholine depolarizes sarcolemma, and is then inactivated by acetylcholinesterase. 4. T tubules and Z lines spread the action potential throughout the muscle fibre. 5. Electrical depolarization changes the permeability of S.R., causing somehow the release of calcium ionsfrom the S.R. lumen into the cytoplasm of the muscle fibre. 6. Ca++ bind to troponin C, causing conformational changes, making tropomyosin move uncover the active sites on actin. One complete swiveling cycle of myosine head shortens the sarcomere by about 1% of its original length. II. Contraction 7. ATP joints meromyosin head that hydrolyses. ATP into ADP and inorganic phosphate, releasing energy.The energy raises the head to high-energy state. An enzyme myosin ATPase catalyzes the reaction in thepresence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions. 8.The energized head straightens and joins active site on actin, forming a cross-bridge by pulling it inwards. 9. The head now releases ADP and inorganic phosphate and relaxes to its low-energy state and position.This pulls the actin myofilament towards the centre of the sarcomere, that shortens. 10. A new ATP molecule joins the head, detaching it form the actin myofilament 11. Above four steps (7 10) are repeated many times during one contraction to draw the thin myofilaments further inward. III. Relaxation 1. Now the calcium ions are quickly returned to the sarcoplasmic reticulum by active transport with energyfrom ATP. 2. Troponin-tropomyosin complex shifts back to block the active sites on actin. 3. The thin myofilaments return to their original resting position. The muscle is now relaxed. Skeletal muscle action potential

4. In the relaxation period, sarcolemma becomes normal or repolarized as the sodium-potassium exchangepump starts working. 5. In case of repeated contractions, ATP is replenished by the action : ADP + Phosphocreatine = ATP +Creatine. 6. In case of excessive muscular activity, the muscle fibres run into oxygen debt and stop contractions due to accumulation of lactic acid. 7.In a resting muscle, the excess lactic acid is oxidized. This enables the muscle to resume contractions. ATP is used when detachment of Ca2+ from troponin and cross-bridge. Monosynaptic reflex and reciprocal reflex

Reciprocal synapse : A category of synaptic connection in which the synapse is independently specified in each direction (neuron A connects to neuron B and there is a reverse synapse from B to A). Often reciprocal pairs are adjacent.