Exercise 8 Simple Muscle Contraction

3 Phases
AB
- lag phase or latent phase
- (shortest) 0.00sec, usually
less than 0.01sec
- brief period that exists
between the application of the
stimulus and the start of
contraction
BC
- contraction, 0.05sec
- peak
- shortening of the muscle occur
CD
- relaxation period, 0.05 sec
- Occurs when Ca+ is transported back in the sarcoplasmic
reticulum
Single muscle contraction= 100vib/sec (tuning fork)= 0.10 sec
10vib (result)
Neuromuscular junction
- formed when several branches of axons form a single
muscle fiber
- also called synapse
- connection between a muscle fiber and nerve
"All or none" law of muscle contraction
- refers to the action potential that influences a muscular
fiber to stimulation
Exercise 9 Summation
A- First baseline
B- Second baseline; first
peak
C- Second peak
AB- first
contraction
BC- second
contraction
CD- relaxation
Summation
- a result of addition of the excitatory and inhibitory
effects of many stimulus applied to a neuron
- when a stimulus is applied in rapid succession, increase
strength of muscle contraction occurs
- what happens during summation?
o When you apply a single stimulus, Ca+ ions
are released causing the muscles to contract
but when two rapid successive stimuli are
applied before relaxation occurs, the muscle
again will contract
Treppe
- forms a staircase muscle contraction
Tetanus
- sustained contraction when the muscle is stimulated
repeatedly such that the interval between the stimuli is
less than the contraction time

1.

complete/fusedsustained contraction
without partial
contraction, 80100times per sec

2.

incomplete- sustained
contraction with partial
relaxation, 20-30times
per sec contraction

contraction

Refractory period
- time which an excitable cell cannot respond to a
stimulus that is usually adequate to evoke an action
potential
Absolute refractory period
- time during which a second action potential cannot be
initiated, even with a very strong stimulus
Relative refractory period
- period which a second action potential can be initiated
but only on a supramaxinal stimulus
Exercise 10 Isotonic and Isometric Contractions
A. Isometric contraction (equal distance)
o length of muscle does not change but the
amount of force increases as contraction
occurs
o eg. holding an object, standing
B. Isotonic contraction (equal tension)
o length of the muscle changes but force is
constant
o eg. walking, running, dancing: movements of
the upper limb exhibit predominant isotonic
contractions
1. Concentric isotonic contraction
o contractions in which muscle tension increases
as the muscle shortens
o eg. bicep curling, straightening the arm,
moving the hand from side to side
2.

Eccentric isotonic contraction

o contractions in which tension is maintained as
the muscle lengthens
o eg. person letting a heavy weight down slowly
a person using his hamstring muscles when
running downhill, overloading the bicep so
that it straitens, contractions of quadriceps
muscle when descending the stairs

Exercise 11 Pithing
Pithing
- destruction of CNS to render the frog free from pain
Signs of successful pithing
- needle has destroyed branches of the sciatic nerve

frog's legs to extend forward and quiver a few moments

with the withdrawal of needle, frog should remain limp
throughout the experiment

Set-up: battery connected to simple key and

electrode/stimulator
simple key connected to battery and electrode/stimulator
electrode/stimulator connected to battery and simple key

Exercise 12 Muscle-Nerve Preparation

Purpose of teasing thigh muscles: to expose the sciatic nerve
Exercise 13 Applications of the Different Forms of Stimuli
Different forms of stimuli
A. Mechanical stimulus- single muscle contraction
B. Thermal stimulus
1. Hot water- single muscle contraction
2. Cold/iced water- single muscle contraction
C. Chemical stimulus- series of muscle contraction
D. Electrical stimulus

2. Indirect current- series of muscle contraction

Set up: battery connected to simple key and inductorium
simple key connected to battery and inductorium
inductorium connected to simple key, battery and
electrode/stimulator

1.
Subthreshold stimulus
- does not cause action potential and no contraction occurs
Threshold stimulus
- produces action potential, contraction occurs

Direct current- single muscle contraction

Reflex arc
1 receptor
2 sensory neuron
3 interneuron/association
4 motor neuron
5 effector (muscle/gland)

Spasmodic movement
- strychnine solution: destroys enzyme
acetylchlorinesterase
- acetylchlorinesterase: stimulates excitatory
neurotransmitter inhibitor, binds with amino acid
glycine which is another neurotransmitter for relaxation
and contraction equilibrium hence the muscle will
remain contacted in the diaphragm
Complex reflexes
- both flexors and extensors may be stimulated hence
also sends signals to the other unit which is
contralateral to extend for the preservation of life

Exercise 15 Complex Coordinated and Uncoordinated

Reflex
Reflex: RIPPU- Rapid. Involuntary. Programmable.
Predictable. Unconscious. motor response to a specific
stimulus
eg. Blink reflex
1 receptor: Sensory organ (Eye)
2 Sensory/afferent neuron: Optic nerve
3 interneuron: brain
4 motor/efferent: occulomotor nerve
5 effector organ: levator palpibrae superioris or
orbicular is oculi- closes the eye
Exercise 35 The Effect of Temperature on Cardiac
Contractions
intact muscle - 70beats per min
in hot ringer's solution - increases (84beats per min)
in cold ringer's solution - decreases (40beats per min)
effects of:
o Ca- increase vigor
o K- decrease vigor
effects of:
o sympathetic cardia- increase
o parasympathetic cardia- decrease
o tachycardia- abnormal excessive rapid heartbeat
which is over 100beats/min
o bradycardia- slow heart beat under 60beats/min
contraction: high temperature- increase heart rate
low temperature- decrease heart rate
*human: 60-80beats/min