3.6.3 Skeletal Muscles are Stimulated to Contract by Nerves and act as Effectors Flashcards Preview

Grice/Hall AQA A-Level Biology Revision 13 > 3.6.3 Skeletal Muscles are Stimulated to Contract by Nerves and act as Effectors > Flashcards

Flashcards in 3.6.3 Skeletal Muscles are Stimulated to Contract by Nerves and act as Effectors Deck (18)
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1
Q

What are the three types of muscle?

A

Cardiac: exclusively in the heart
Smooth: walls of blood vessels and the heart
Skeletal: responsible for conscious control

2
Q

What are myofibrils?

A

Groups of filaments which have been fused together to make up the larger muscle fibre
A bundle of muscle fibres share nuclei, a membrane called the sarcolemma and a cytoplasm called the sarcoplasm

3
Q

What is the sarcolemma membrane?

A

It encases a specialised cytoplasm called the sarcoplasm
On the inner surface there is sarcoplasmic reticulum
Inner foldings which form another membrane system called the T tubules, in contact with the sarcoplasmic reticulum

4
Q

What does the sarcoplasm contain?

A
Many mitochondria
Stores of glycogen
Myoglobin (store of oxygen with high association)
Numerous myofibrils
Numerous nuclei (for protein synthesis)
5
Q

What is the structure of muscle fibres?

A

Muscle fibres encase myofibrils which encase muscle filaments

6
Q

What is the simplified structure of muscle filaments?

A

See card

7
Q

What are the two types of muscle filaments?

A

Actin: thinner and consists of two strands twisted round one another
Myosin: thicker and consist of long rod shaped tails with bulbous heads that project to the side

8
Q

What are the two types of muscle fibres?

A

Slow - twitch

Fast - twitch

9
Q

What are the properties of slow - twitch fibres?

A
They contract slower
They provide less powerful contractions
Work over a longer period
Adapted for endurance work
Have a large store of myoglobin
Connected to a rich blood supply
Contain numerous mitochondria
10
Q

What are the properties of fast - twitch fibres?

A

They contract more rapidly
They produce powerful contractions for a short period
They are adapted for intense exercise
They are thicker and more numerous myosin filaments
Have a higher glycogen concentration
Have a higher enzyme concentration

11
Q

What is the process for the sliding filament theory?

A
  1. The tropomyosin molecule prevents myosin heads from attaching to the binding site on the actin molecule
  2. Calcium ions released from the ER cause the tropomyosin molecule to change shape and so pull away from the binding site on the actin molecule
  3. The myosin head now attaches to the binding site on the actin filament
  4. The head of myosin changes angle, moving the actin filament along as it does so. The ADP molecule is released
  5. ATP molecules fix to the myosin head, causing it to detach from the actin filament
  6. Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP by ATPase provides the energy for the myosin head to resume its normal position
  7. Head of myosin reattaches to a binding site further along the actin filament and the cycle is repeated
12
Q

What is the role of actin in the sliding filament theory?

A

It is the thin filament
It is a part of the troponin tropomyosin complex
It provides binding sites for myosin heads during the power stroke

13
Q

How is calcium involved in contraction in the sliding filament mechanism?

A

The action potential travels throught the T tubules
The tubules are in contact with the ER of the muscle
The ER has actively transported calcium ions from the cytoplasm of the muscle leading to very low Ca 2+ concentration in cytoplasm
The action potential opens the calcium ion protein channels on the ER calcium ions diffuse into the muscle cytoplasm down a concentration gradient
The calcium ions cause the tropomyosin molecules that were blocking the binding sites on the actin filament to pull away

14
Q

What are the different types of nervous system?

A

Sympathetic: stimulates effectors, speeds up activity
Parasympathetic: inhibits effectors, slows down activity

15
Q

Which part of the brain controls heart rate?

A

The medulla oblongata

Connected to the sinatorial node via the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

16
Q

What is the process for the control of chemoreceptors?

A

When the blood has a higher concentration of CO2, it’s pH is lowered
Chemoreceptors in the wall of the arteries and aorta increase the frequency of nervous impulses to the centre in the medulla oblongata which increases the heart rate
This centre increases the frequency of impulses via the SA
This increases the rate of production of electrical waves by the SA
This increased the heart rate
The increased blood flow leads to more CO2 being removed from the lungs which decreases the concentration in the blood
The pH of the blood rises to normal and the chemoreceptors reduce the frequency of nerve impulses
This decreases the heart rate

17
Q

How do pressure receptor operate when the blood pressure is higher than normal?

A

Pressure receptors transmit more nervous impulses to the centre in the medulla oblongata which decreases heart rate
The centres sends impulses via the parasympathetic nervous system to the SA which leads to a decrease in heart rate

18
Q

How do pressure receptor operate when the blood pressure is lower than normal?

A

Pressure receptors transmit more nervous impulses to the centre in the medulla oblongata which increases heart rate
The centres sends impulses via the sympathetic nervous system to the SA which leads to an increase in heart rate

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