Bone structure and core MSK histology Flashcards
what are the 3 types of muscle
skeletal or voluntary
cardiac
smooth
describe skeletal muscle cells
striated
unbranched
multinucleated (forms syncytium)
Nuclei are at the periphery of the fibre, just under the cell membrane (in muscle cells is called the sarcolemma)
how are skeletal muscle fibres grouped ?
Into bundles called fascicles. A muscle typically contains several.
what is the connective tissue which surrounds the skeletal muscle as a whole called?
epimysium
what is the connective tissue which surrounds a single fascile called ?
perimysium
what is the connective tissue which surrounds a single muscle fibre called ?
endomysium
what is this microscope pic of?

striated skeletal muscle
what is the smallest contractile elements in skeletal muscles ‘known as unit of contraction’ called?
sarcomeres
what do sarcomeres form when placed end to end ?
myofibrils
how are myofibrils packed together?
packed together like cigarettes in a pack - in the muscle fibres

what is an unusual feature about skeletal muscles ?
they have mutli nuclei

what does a motor unit consist of ?
One motor neurone and all of the muscle fibres that it innervates (anywhere from a few to more than a hundred fibres).
The axon of the motor neurone branches as it nears its termination and each branch ends in a special type of synapse - what is this synapse called ?
neuromuscular junction
the fewer the numebr of muscle fibres in a motor unit the finer the control of movement (T/F)
true
what are the 3 types of skeletal muscle ?
Type I
Type IIA
Type IIB
describe type I skeletal muscle
Relatively slowly contracting fibres that depend on oxidative metabolism. They have abundant mitochondria, are resistant to fatigue and produce relatively less force. Often called ‘red’ fibres.
describe type IIA muscle fibres
They are relatively fast contracting, but are also reasonably resistant to fatigue. These fibres are relatively uncommon.
describe type IIB muscle fibres
Fast contracting fibres that depend on anaerobic metabolism. They have few mitochondria, fatigue relatively easily and produce relatively greater force. Often called ‘white’ fibres.
describe cartilage in general terms
Semi-rigid and Deformable
Permeable
Avascular
Cells nourished by diffusion through the extracellular matrix.
describe bone in general terms
Rigid
Not Permeable
Cells within the bone must be nourished by blood vessels that pervade the tissue.
what are the cells found within cartilage ?
chondrocytes (chondroblasts when immature)
what is the function of chondrocytes and where are they situated within cartilage
Chondrocytes live within a space in the extracellular matrix termed a lacuna. Chondrocytes are active cells which not only secrete, but also maintain the extracellular matrix around them.
what is the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cartilage comprised of ?
75% water
25% organic material of which - 60% is type II collagen and 40% is proteoglycan aggregates made up of GAG’s - (side note)(most commonly keratan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate) bound to a core protein and often linked to hyaluronan.







