WK 2: Neuromuscular Junction & Skeletal Muscle

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What is the primary function of a synapse?

To transmit electrical or chemical signals to another cell, muscle, or gland (correct)

To receive electrochemical signals from surrounding cells

To insulate the axon from surrounding tissues

To regulate the growth of adjacent neurons

What is the term for the process by which neurons communicate through electrochemical signals?

Neurotransmission

Synaptic transmission (correct)

Electrochemical signaling

Axonal transmission

What is the 'quantal nature' of synaptic transmission referring to?

The graded transmission of signals between neurons

The all-or-nothing principle of signal transmission (correct)

The continuous transmission of signals between neurons

The asynchronous transmission of signals between neurons

What is the 'sliding filaments' hypothesis in relation to muscle contraction?

A theory that explains how muscles contract through the sliding of actin and myosin filaments Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'size principle' in relation to the control of skeletal muscles?

The principle that smaller motor units are recruited first during muscle contraction Signup and view all the answers

What is the organization of the somatomotor system in relation to skeletal muscles?

A system that controls the contraction of skeletal muscles Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the tropomyosin bridge when the muscle contracts?

It is displaced Signup and view all the answers

Where are calcium ions stored in the muscle fiber?

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of the somatomotor system?

Motor unit Signup and view all the answers

What determines the size of the motor unit?

The size of the motor neuron pool Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of transmission of information across a synapse?

Chemical signaling Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Ca2+ in muscle contraction?

Excitation-contraction coupling Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the T-tubules in muscle contraction?

To transmit the electrical impulse Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of small motor units in skeletal muscle?

They produce weak forces but are resistant to fatigue Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the binding of myosin to actin?

The muscle contracts Signup and view all the answers

What is the size principle in skeletal muscle recruitment?

Smaller motor units are recruited first, with larger motor units being recruited progressively Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of high frequencies of stimulation on muscle force generation?

It leads to an increase in force generation Signup and view all the answers

What is the neurotransmitter involved in the neuromuscular junction?

Acetylcholine (ACh) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism by which ACh is released in synaptic transmission?

Release of ACh in packets of vesicles Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the small voltages produced by the release of ACh in synaptic transmission?

Miniature End Plate Potentials Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the release of ACh vesicles in synaptic transmission?

Always occurs in a probabilistic fashion Signup and view all the answers

What is the component of skeletal muscle that contains multiple myofibrils?

Muscle fiber Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the group of scientists who hypothesized the quantal nature of synaptic transmission?

The Sydney gang Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the multiplication of the amplitude of the evoked response and the spontaneous synaptic potential amplitude?

Multiplication factor Signup and view all the answers

What determines the intensity of a muscle contraction?

The firing rate of motor units Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle that describes the order of recruitment of motor units?

The size principle Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the force produced by a muscle during continuous stimulation?

It decreases due to fatigue Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of summation of twitch forces in a muscle?

A tetanic contraction Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between firing rate and force production in a muscle?

Force production is linearly proportional to firing rate Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the force-frequency curves following fatigue?

They shift to the right Signup and view all the answers