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Anatomy and Physiology Reviewer – Comprehensive Study Guide and Exam Preparation Notes

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This document is a structured reviewer for Anatomy and Physiology, designed to support students in understanding key concepts across major topics in the subject. It includes summarized explanations, essential definitions, and core principles commonly covered in exams. The material is ideal for revision, quick review, and strengthening foundational knowledge before assessments.

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Institution
Anatomy
Module
Anatomy

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MUSCULAR SYSTEM STRUCTURES-MUSCLE FIBER STRUCTURE

Functions: 1. SARCOLEMMA:
 cell membrane-contains T-tubules.
1. Movement 2. SARCOPLASM:
2. Maintainposture  cytoplasm of muscle fiber (cell).
3. Respiration 3. MYOFIBRIL:
4. Production of body heat  thread-like proteins that make up muscle fibers.
5. Communication 4. MYOFILAMENT:
6. Heartbeat  proteins that make up myofibrils.
7. Contraction of organs and vessels  Ex. actin and myosin.

SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM: stores and releases
Types: Ca2+.

1. Skeletal Muscle Sarcomere-basis for muscle contraction theory
2. Cardiac Muscle known as sliding filament theory.
3. Smooth Muscle


General Properties of Muscle STRUCTURES-ACTIN AND MYOSIN
MYOFILAMENTS
1. EXCITABILITY:
- Respond to stimulus 1. ACTIN:
2. CONTRACTILITY:  Thin myofilament
- Ability to shorten  Resemble 2 strands of pearls.
3. EXTENSIBILITY: 2. MYOSIN:
- Can stretch  Thick myofilament
4. ELASTICITY:  Resemble golf clubs.
- Recoil 3. TROPONIN:
 attachmentsiteonactinforCa2+.
4. TROPOMYOSIN:
Clinical Significance of Muscle  Filament on grooves of actin.
 attachment site on actin for myosin.
1. Muscles are sites for the introduction of drugs.
 Intramuscular injections in the: arm (into deltoid
muscles), thigh (into vastus muscles), and
buttocks (into gluteus muscles). STRUCTURES-SARCOMERES
2. Muscles are efficiently used in lifting & moving
1. SARCOMERE:
clients.
 contractile unit-contains actin and myosin.
2. Z DISK:
 protein fibers that form attachment site for
SKELETAL MUSCLE actin.
3. H ZONE:
Characteristics:  center of sarcomere-contains only myosin.
4. I BAND
1. Makes up 40% of body weight.
 Contains only actin.
2. Named because attached to bones (skeleton).
5. A BAND:
3. Many nuclei per cell (near periphery).
 Where actin and myosin overlap.
4. Striated
6. M LINE:
5. Longest of muscle types.
 Where myosin are anchored.


STRUCTURES-CONNECTIVE TISSUE COVERINGS
EXCITABILITY OF MUSCLES FIBERS
1. EPIMYSIUM:
 connective tissue that surrounds entire skeletal
muscle (outside).
2. MUSCLE FASCICULUS:
 bundle of muscle fibers.
3. PERIMYSIUM:
 connective tissue around each muscle
fasciculus.
4. MUSCLE FIBER:
 Skeletal muscle cells.
 Many nuclei.
5. ENDOMYSIUM:
 Connective tissue that surrounds each muscle
fiber.

,ACTION POTENTIAL

 “electricity”
 stimulus that causes rapid depolarization and
repolarization.
 causes muscle to contract.

DEPOLARIZATION

 change in charges.
 inside becomes more + and outside more.
 Na+ channels open.

REPOLARIZATION

 Na+ channels close.
 change back to resting potential.

SODIUM-POTASSIUM PUMP

 pumps Na+ out of cell and transports K+ into
cell.
 restores balance.


NERVE SUPPLY AND MUSCLE FIBER
STIMULATION

1. MOTOR NEURON:
 nerve cells that carry action potentials to
muscle fibers.
2. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION (SYNAPSE):
 where nerve cell and muscle fiber meet.
3. PRESYNAPTIC TERMINAL:
 end of nerve cell (axon).
4. SYNAPTIC CLEFT:
 space between presynaptic terminal and
postsynaptic membrane.
5. POSTSYNAPTIC MEMBRANE:
 muscle fiber membrane.
6. SYNAPTIC VESICLE:
 in presynaptic terminal.
 store and release neurotransmitters.
7. NEUROTRANSMITTER:
 Chemicals that stimulate or inhibit a muscle
fiber.
 Ex. Acetylcholine




SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION

The Sliding Filament Mechanism




STEPS IN A MUSCLE CONTRACTION (Sliding
Filament Theory)

, 1. An action potential travels down motor neuron to  Tetanus:
presynaptic terminal causing Ca2+ channels to - Muscle remains contracted.
open.
2. Ca2+ causes synaptic vesicles to release
acetylcholine into synaptic cleft.
TYPES OF MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS
3. Acetylcholine binds to receptor sites on Na+
channels, Na+ channels open, and Na+ rushes  ISOTONIC:
into postsynaptic terminal (depolarization). - amount of repetitions increases.
4. Na+ causes sarcolemma and t-tubules to  Concentric – movement is against gravity.
increase the permeability of sarcoplasmic  Eccentric – movement is with gravity.
reticulum which releases stored calcium.  ISOMETRIC:
5. Ca2+ binds to troponin which is attached to - amount of tension increases (weight).
actin.
6. Ca2+ binding to troponin causes tropomyosin to
move exposing attachment sites for myosin.
SLOW TWITCH FIBERS
7. Myosin heads bind to actin.
8. ATP is released from myosin heads and heads  Contract slowly
bend toward center of sarcomere.  Fatigue slowly
9. Bending forces actin to slide over myosin.  Long distance runners
10. Acetylcholinesterase (enzyme breaks down  Use aerobic respiration.
acetylcholine) is released, Na+ channels close,  Energy from fat
and muscle contraction stops.  Dark meat
 Red or dark because of myoglobin.
 Myoglobin: helps O2 bind in muscle



FAST TWITCH FIBERS

 Contract quickly
 Fatigue quickly
 Sprinters
 Use anaerobic respiration.
 Energy from glycogen.
 White meat



OTHER FACTS ABOUT TWITCH FIBERS

 Humans have both types of fibers.
 Distribution of fibers is genetically determined.
 Neither type can be converted but capacity can
be increased through intense exercise.



SKELETAL MUSCLE ANATOMY

 Origin:
Other Information - Non movable end
 Insertion:
 ATP is made in mitochondria from aerobic or - movable end.
anaerobic respiration.  Belly:
 During a muscle contraction, H zone and I band - middle
shorten but A band stays the same.  Agonist:
 Striations of skeletal and cardiac muscle are - muscle that accomplishes a certain
due to sarcomeres (actin and myosin). movement.
 Rigor mortis:  Antagonist:
- person dies and no ATP is available to release - muscles that oppose each other.
cross-bridges.  Synergists:
- muscles that work together.
Terms  Fixator:
- muscles that hold one bone in place.
 Threshold:
- weakest stimulus needed to produce a
response.
 All or None Law: NOMENCLATURE
- Muscle contracts or doesn’t (no in between)
 Twitch: Muscles are named according to:
- Rapid contraction and relaxation of a muscle.

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Institution
Anatomy
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Anatomy

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Uploaded on
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