Physiology of Muscle Contraction

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PYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION
1. SLIDING FLIMAENTS MECHANISM

The model describe the process known as “sliding filament mechanism” – Purpose that muscle fibres
shortens or lengthen because myofibril filaments slide past each other without actually changing their
length.
 Muscle contraction occurs when myosin is binding with actin myosin binding site .
 Myosin pull the actin(thin filaments ) towards the M* line ; centre of sarcomere. Myosin pull the
actin from the each side.
 As thin filaments slide inwards ,I* band and H* zone narrow and eventually disappear altogether
when muscle is maximally contracted .
 There is no change in length and width of A* band of the thin filaments.
 Since the thin filaments on each side of the sarcomere attached to Z disc , when the thin filaments
silde inwards , the Z* disc come closer together and sarcomere shortens.
 Shortening of the sarcomere causes shortening of the whole muscle fibre which leads to shortening
of entire muscle.
 M* Line – Region in the centre of H zone that contain protein that hold thick filaments together at
centre of sarcomere .
 I* band – Lighter zone , less dense area of sarcomere that contain thin filaments but no thick filaments
.
 H* zone – Narrow region in centre of each A band that contain thick filaments but no thin filaments.
 Z disc – Narrow ; plate shaped region of dense material that separate one sarcomere from the next.
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Fig : sliding filaments : (a) when relaxed (b) when contracted

Red line(darker) – Thick filaments (Myosin )
Blue line(light) – Thin filaments ( Actin )
1.1. EXCITATION – CONTRACTION COUPLING

The sequence of events that links excitation ( a muscle action potential ) to contraction sliding of filaments )
is referred as excitation – contraction coupling.
 Increase in Ca2+ concentration in sarcoplasm starts contraction and a decrease stop it.
 When a muscle fibre is relaxed , the Ca2+ in sarcoplasm is very low
Note : Sarcoplasm is the cytoplasm of the muscle fibre ; in sarcoplasm there is sarcoplasmic reticulum ; which
have a dilated end called transverse cisterns .In relaxation calcium stored in this end and when contracted
calcium is released from this end to sarcoplasm.
 When action potential generate it propagate along sarcolemma to Transverse tubules cause excitation
of sarcoplasm and release calcium .ie; starts excitation
 Excitation coupling occurs at the triads of skeletal muscle (Triads is formed by transverse tubules and
2 opposite terminal cisterns of sarcoplasmic reticulum)
 Sarcoplasm contains 2 membrane proteins also participate in this excitation –contraction coupling
includes ;
Voltage gated calcium channels present in the T tubules and Calcium releasing channel called calcium
ATPase pump in SR
 Action potential excite both these channels and there is the increase in the calcium inside sarcoplasmic
reticulum.
1.2. CONTRACTION CYCLE

 At onset of muscle contraction , the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions into the sarcoplasm
.where they bind to troponin. Troponin moves away tropomycin from away from the myosin binding
site on actin .
 Ones the binding site are free the contraction cycle starts
 Contraction cycle consist of 4 steps :
1. ATP hydrolysis
2. Myosin bind to actin ; cross bridge
3. Power stock
4. Detachment of myocin head from actin.
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1. ATP Hydrolysis
 In Myosin , at ATP Binding site ; when ATP with this binding site ( site have a ATPse activity ) ATP
hydrolysis and ATP is converted to ADP and Phosphate group.
 The energy obtained from the hydrolysis stored in the myosin head used for later use.
 After hydrolysis , myosin head assume a “crock” position ,like a stretched spring. In this position
myosin head is perpendicular (900) relative to thick and thin filaments to bind to an actin molecules.
2. Attachment Of Myosin To Actin

 The energized myosin binding to the myosin binding site of the actin molecule . This process is called
cross bridging.
3. Power stock
 After a cross bridging, the myosin head forming pivots : changes its position from 90 to 450 relative
to thick and thin filaments .
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 As myosin head changes thin filaments towards the centre of sarcomere .
4. Detachment of myosin from actin

 At the end of power stock, the cross bridge remains firmly attached to actin until it binds another
molecule of ATP . As ATP binds to the ATP binding site on the myosin head , the myosin head
detaches from actin.
 The contraction cycle continues as long as ATP and calcium is available .
 Cross bridge keep rotating back and forth with the each power stock , pulling the thin filaments towards
the M lines.
 As contraction cycle repeats movements of cross bridge applies a force which pull the Z disc towards
each other ; and the sarcomere shortens.
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Physiology of Muscle Contraction

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1

PYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION

1. SLIDING FLIMAENTS MECHANISM

Fig : sliding filaments : (a) when relaxed (b) when contracted

1.1. EXCITATION – CONTRACTION COUPLING

1.2. CONTRACTION CYCLE

2. Attachment Of Myosin To Actin

4. Detachment of myosin from actin

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