Muscle and Tendon Physiology

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Muscle Fundamentals - Mighty Machines

  • Muscle Fiber (Cell): Basic structural unit; multinucleated. Contains myofibrils.
  • Myofibril: Composed of repeating sarcomeres, the functional contractile units.
    • Sarcomere: Z-disc to Z-disc.
      • A-band: Anisotropic (dArk); contains Myosin ± Actin. Length constant during contraction.
      • I-band: Isotropic (lIght); Actin only. Shortens during contraction.
      • H-zone: Myosin only. Shortens during contraction.
      • M-line: Midpoint of sarcomere; anchors Myosin. and thin (actin) filaments, titin, and nebulin)
  • Motor Unit: A single α-motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates. Obeys "all-or-none" law.
  • Muscle Fiber Types: Muscle Fiber Types Comparison, Type IIA (fast oxidative glycolytic), Type IIX/B (fast glycolytic) detailing contraction speed, fatigue resistance, color, mitochondria, myoglobin, capillary density, and primary metabolic pathway)

Titin is a giant protein responsible for passive elasticity of muscle and stabilizing myosin filaments within the sarcomere. It's the largest known protein in the human body!

Contraction Action - Sliding Story

  • NMJ Activation: AP → Ca²⁺ influx → ACh release → ACh binds receptors → EPP → Muscle AP.

  • Excitation-Contraction Coupling:

  • Sliding Filament Mechanism:
    • Ca²⁺ binds Troponin C → Tropomyosin shifts, exposing actin sites.
    • Myosin head (energized by ATP hydrolysis: $ATP \rightarrow ADP + P_i$) binds actin (cross-bridge).
    • Power Stroke: Myosin pulls actin; ADP and $P_i$ are released.
    • New ATP binds myosin → detachment.
    • Cycle repeats if Ca²⁺ & ATP are present.
    • Sarcomere shortens: H & I bands ↓; A band constant. 📌 Mnemonic: "HI" disappears (H and I bands shorten). Sliding Filament Theory: Sarcomere relaxed vs contracted
  • Relaxation: Ca²⁺ pumped back to SR (SERCA pump, ATP-dependent) → Tropomyosin covers actin sites.

⭐ Rigor mortis occurs due to ATP depletion, preventing myosin head detachment from actin.

Tendon Tidbits - Tough Connectors

  • Function: Transmit muscle force to bone; enable movement & stability.

  • Composition:

    • Cells: Tenocytes & tenoblasts (synthesize/maintain ECM).
    • ECM: Primarily Type I collagen (~95%), elastin, proteoglycans (e.g., decorin).
  • Structure: Hierarchical: Collagen molecule → microfibril → fibril → fascicle → tendon.

    • Endotenon: Connective tissue around fascicles.
    • Epitenon: Connective tissue sheath covering entire tendon.
    • Paratenon: Outer loose connective tissue layer (if present, aids gliding). Tendon structure: healthy vs. tendinopathy
  • Vascularity: Limited; supplied by musculotendinous junction (MTJ), osteotendinous junction (OTJ) & paratenon/synovial sheath.

  • Innervation: Golgi Tendon Organs (GTOs - proprioception), mechanoreceptors (Ruffini, Pacinian), nociceptors (free nerve endings).

  • Biomechanics: Viscoelastic properties (creep, stress relaxation).

    • Stress-Strain Curve: Toe region (crimp unfolds), linear region (elastic), plastic region (microfailure), ultimate failure point.
  • Healing: Slow due to ↓ vascularity; often results in mechanically inferior scar tissue.

⭐ Type I collagen is the predominant collagen type in tendons, providing their characteristic high tensile strength.

Healing & Hurt - Repair & Rebuild

  • Muscle Injury:
    • Strain (indirect), Contusion (direct).
    • Grades: 1 (mild, <5% fibers, min. loss), 2 (moderate, partial tear, pain, ↓strength), 3 (severe, complete tear, defect).
  • Tendon Injury:
    • Tendinopathy, Rupture.
  • Healing Phases (Muscle & Tendon):
    1. Inflammation (0-7d): Hematoma, necrosis, phagocytosis. Cells: neutrophils, macrophages.
    2. Proliferation (1-6w): Fibroblasts, myoblasts active. Collagen III. Angiogenesis.
    3. Remodeling (>3w-yrs): Collagen III→I. Cross-linking, alignment, scar matures. Strength regains.

    ⭐ Tendon healing primarily forms scar tissue. Early Type III collagen is replaced by stronger Type I, but final tensile strength rarely matches the original, uninjured tendon.

Tendon Healing Phases

  • Key Points: RICE/PRICE acutely. Controlled mobilization is vital for optimal healing. Scar tissue is biomechanically inferior.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Sarcomere: Basic contractile unit; actin-myosin interaction drives contraction.
  • Calcium (Ca²⁺) binding to troponin C initiates muscle contraction.
  • ATP is vital for cross-bridge cycling (contraction) and detachment (relaxation).
  • Motor unit: A single motor neuron and all muscle fibers it innervates.
  • Tendons: Primarily Type I collagen, ensuring high tensile strength.
  • Golgi Tendon Organs sense muscle tension; Muscle Spindles sense muscle length/stretch.
  • Henneman's size principle: Smaller motor units are recruited before larger ones during muscle activation.

Practice Questions: Muscle and Tendon Physiology

Test your understanding with these related questions

Arrange the following parts of sarcomere from periphery to center. 1. Z line 2. M line 3. A band 4. H zone

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Flashcards: Muscle and Tendon Physiology

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Which bone grafts have only osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Which bone grafts have only osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties?_____

Allografts

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