Muscle Physiology

Humanbody has more than 600 muscles.
Muscles perform
many useful functions and help us in doing everything in
day-to-day life. Muscles are classified by three different
methods, based on different factors:
I. Depending upon the presence or absence of striations
II. Depending upon the control III. Depending upon the

situation.
DEPENDING UPON STRIATIONS
Depending upon the presence or absence of cross striations,

the muscles are divided into two groups:
1. Striated muscle 2. Non-striated muscle.
1. Striated Muscle Striated muscle is the muscle which has a large

number of cross-striations (transverse lines). Skeletal muscle
and cardiac muscle belong to this category.
2. Non-striated Muscle Muscle which does not have cross-striations is

called non-striated muscle. It is also called plain muscle or
smoothmuscle. It is found in the wall of the
DEPENDING UPON CONTROL
1. Voluntary muscle
2. Involuntary muscle.
1. Voluntary Muscle Voluntary muscle is the muscle that is controlled by

the will. Skeletal muscles are the voluntary muscles.
These muscles are innervated by somatic nerves.
2. Involuntary Muscle Muscle that cannot be controlled by the will

is called involuntary muscle. Cardiac muscle and smoothmuscle
are involuntary muscles. These muscles are innervated by
autonomic nerves.
DEPENDING UPON SITUATION
Depending upon situation, the muscles are classified into three

types:
1. Skeletal muscle
2. Cardiac muscle
3. Smooth muscle.
1. Skeletal Muscle Skeletal muscle is situated in association with bones
forming the skeletal system. The skeletal muscles form
40% to 50% of body mass and are voluntary and
striated. These muscles are supplied by somatic
nervesFibers of the skeletal muscles are arranged in
parallel. In most of the skeletal muscles, muscle fibers
are attached to tendons on either end. Skeletal
muscles are anchored to the bones by the tendons.
2. Cardiac Muscle Cardiac muscle forms the musculature of the heart. These
muscles are striatedand involuntary. Cardiac muscles are
supplied by autonomic nerve fibers.
3. Smooth Muscle Smooth muscle is situated in association with

viscera. It is also called visceral muscle. It is
different from skeletal and cardiac muscles because of the
absence of crossstriations,hence the name smoothmuscle.
Smooth muscle is supplied by autonomic nerve fibers.
Smooth muscles form the main contractile units of wall of
the variousvisceral organs.
SKELETAL MUSCLE
MUSCLE MASS
Muscle mass or muscle tissue is made up of a large number of individual muscle cells or
myocytes. The muscle cells are commonly called muscle fibers because these cells are long and
slender in appearance. Skeletal muscle fibers are multinucleated and are arranged parallel to one
another with some connective tissue in between (Fig. 29.1). Muscle mass is separated from the
neighboring tissues by a thick fibrous tissue layer known as fascia. Beneath the fascia, muscle is
covered by a connective tissue sheath called epimysium. In the muscle, the muscle fibers are
arranged in various groups called bundles or fasciculi. Connective tissue sheath that covers each
fasciculus is called perimysium. Each muscle fiber is covered by a connective tissue layer called
the endomysium.
MUSCLE FIBER
Each muscle cell or muscle fiber is cylindrical in shape. Average length of the fiber is 3
cm. It varies between 1 cm and 4 cm, depending upon the length of the muscle. The diameter of
the muscle fiber varies from 10 µ to 100 µ. The diameter varies in a single muscle. Muscle fibers
are attached to a tough cord of connective tissue called tendon. Tendon is in turn attached to the
bone. Tendon of some muscles is thin, flat and stretched but tough. Such type of tendon is called
aponeurosis. Each muscle fiber is enclosed by a cell membrane called plasma membrane, that
lies beneath the endomysium. It is also called sarcolemma. Cytoplasm of the muscle is known as
sarcoplasm.
Structure of a skeletal muscle
MYOFIBRIL
Myofibrils or myofibrillae are the fine parallel filaments present in sarcoplasm of the
muscle cell. Myofibrils run through the entire length of the muscle fiber. In the cross-section of a
muscle fiber, the myofibrils appear like small distinct dots within the sarcoplasm. Diameter of
the myofibril is 0.2 to 2 µ. The length of a myofibril varies between 1 cm and 4 cm, depending
upon the length of the muscle fiber. In some muscle fibers, some of the myofibrils are arranged
in groups called Cohnheim’s areas or fields.
MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF A MYOFIBRIL
Light microscopic studies show that, each myofibril consists of a number of two
alternating bands which are also called the sections, segments or disks. These bands are formed
by muscle proteins. The two bands are: 1. Light band or ‘I’ band. 2. Dark band or ‘A’ band.
Light Band or ‘I’ Band Light band is called ‘I’ (isotropic) band because it is isotropic to
polarized light. When polarized light is passed through the muscle fiber at this area, light rays are
refracted at the same angle.
Dark Band or ‘A’ Band Dark band is called ‘A’ (anisotropic) band because it is anisotropic to
polarized light. When polarized light is passed through the muscle fiber at this area, the light rays
are refracted at different directions (An = not; iso = it; trops = turning). Dark band is also called
‘Q’ disk (Querscheibe = cross disk). In an intact muscle fiber, ‘I’ band and ‘A’ band of the
adjacent myofibrils are placed side-by-side. It gives the appearance of characteristic cross-
striations in the muscle fiber. I band is divided into two portions, by means of a narrow and dark
line called ‘Z’ line or ‘Z’ disk (in German, zwischenscheibe = between disks). The ‘Z’ line is
formed by a protein disk, which does not permit passage of light. The portion of myofibril in
between two ‘Z’ lines is called sarcomere.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF SARCOMERE
Electron microscopic studies reveal that the sarcomere consists of many threadlike
structures called myofilaments. Myofilaments are of two types:
1. Actin filaments
2. Myosin filaments

Muscle Physiology

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Humanbody has more than 600 muscles.

I. Depending upon the presence or absence of striations

II. Depending upon the control III. Depending upon the

DEPENDING UPON STRIATIONS

Depending upon the presence or absence of cross striations,

1. Striated Muscle Striated muscle is the muscle which has a large

2. Non-striated Muscle Muscle which does not have cross-striations is

DEPENDING UPON CONTROL

1. Voluntary Muscle Voluntary muscle is the muscle that is controlled by

2. Involuntary Muscle Muscle that cannot be controlled by the will

DEPENDING UPON SITUATION

Depending upon situation, the muscles are classified into three

3. Smooth Muscle Smooth muscle is situated in association with

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