Questions and Answers
What is a sarcomere?
A structural unit of a myofibril in striated muscle, the basic unit of a muscle.
What does the epimysium do?
Covers the muscle and separates it from neighboring structures.
What is the function of the perimysium?
It surrounds a bundle of muscle fibers.
What does the endomysium surround?
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What are myofibrils?
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What are striations?
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What is the sarcolemma?
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What is the transverse tubule?
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What is the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum?
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What are actin filaments?
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What are myosin filaments?
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What is a fascicle?
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Study Notes
Organization of Skeletal Muscle
- Sarcomere: Basic unit of striated muscle, essential for muscle contraction, comprising repeating contractile units.
- Epimysium: Layer of collagenous connective tissue enveloping the entire muscle, providing structural support and separating it from surrounding tissues.
- Perimysium: Connective tissue sheath surrounding muscle fiber bundles (fascicles), facilitating blood flow and nerve distribution.
- Endomysium: Connective tissue that extends from the perimysium, encasing individual muscle fibers, aiding nutrition and signaling.
- Myofibril: Elongated contractile threads within striated muscle cells, composed of repeating sarcomeres responsible for muscle contraction.
- Striations: Characteristic bands in skeletal muscle tissue resulting from the arrangement of myofibrils and sarcomeres, indicating the presence of contractile proteins.
- Sarcolemma: Cell membrane of muscle fibers, essential for action potential propagation and maintaining the internal environment of the muscle cell.
- Transverse Tubule: Invaginations of the sarcolemma that penetrate deep into the muscle fiber, facilitating the spread of electrical impulses and ensuring synchronous contraction.
- Sarcoplasmic Reticulum: Specialized form of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in striated muscle cells that regulates calcium ion levels, crucial for muscle contraction and relaxation.
- Actin: Protein that forms thin filaments in muscle contraction; interacts with myosin to facilitate movement.
- Myosin: Protein forming thick filaments, playing a key role in muscle contraction by binding to actin filaments and pulling them together.
- Fascicle: Groups of muscle fibers, organized to enhance muscle function, with multiple fascicles comprising a single muscle.
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Test your knowledge on the organization of skeletal muscle with these flashcards. Each card presents a key term related to muscle anatomy, such as sarcomere, epimysium, and more. Perfect for students of anatomy and physiology!