Motor unit
The motor unit.
A motor unit consists of a motor neuron and the muscle fibers it controls. The motor neuron sends signals to the muscle fibers to contract, while the motor unit refers to the combination of the neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates.
In the context of the relationship between a neuron and a muscle, "contiguous" refers to the direct physical and functional connection that allows for communication between the two. Specifically, this connection occurs at the neuromuscular junction, where the axon terminal of a motor neuron is in close proximity to the muscle fiber, enabling the transmission of signals. This close relationship is essential for muscle contraction, as the neuron sends neurotransmitters that trigger the muscle to respond. Thus, contiguous highlights the importance of this direct link in facilitating movement.
A muscle twitch refers to a single, quick contraction and relaxation of a skeletal muscle in response to an electrical stimulus. In a laboratory setting, researchers can analyze the characteristics of the twitch, such as its duration, force, and the time between the stimulus and contraction (latency). This helps in understanding muscle physiology and the mechanisms of muscle contraction.
Skeletal muscle is made up of individual components known as muscle fibers. These fibers are formed from the fusion of developmental myoblasts (a type of embryonic progenitor cell that gives rise to a muscle cell). The myofibers (muscle fiber) are long, cylindrical, multinucleated cells composed of actin and myosinmyofibrils repeated as a sarcomere, the basic functional unit of the cell and responsible for skeletal muscle's striated appearance and forming the basic machinery necessary for muscle contraction. The term muscle refers to multiple bundles of muscle fibers held together by connective tissue. Wikipedia dude ...
There are approximately 642 skeletal muscles within the typical human, and almost refers to the action of each muscle from the standard anatomical position.
The term "power stroke" in skeletal muscle refers to the phase of muscle contraction during which the myosin heads pull actin filaments toward the center of the sarcomere. This process occurs after the myosin heads have attached to actin, utilizing ATP to generate force and shorten the muscle fiber. The power stroke is a critical part of the sliding filament theory, which explains how muscle contraction occurs at the molecular level.
Contractile impulse refers to the electrical signal that initiates contraction in muscle cells. In cardiac muscle, this impulse originates from the sinoatrial (SA) node, propagating through the heart to coordinate rhythmic contractions. In skeletal muscle, it results from signals transmitted by motor neurons. Overall, contractile impulses are crucial for the effective functioning of both cardiac and skeletal muscles.
It consists of a maximum of 2 nuclei per fiber so no it can't be considered multinucleated. Only skeletal is multinuke.
Excitable muscle refers primarily to cardiac and skeletal muscle. These types of muscle can respond to stimuli and generate action potentials, allowing for contraction. Smooth muscle also exhibits excitability, but it is less striated and functions involuntarily. Overall, excitable muscles are essential for movement and various physiological processes in the body.
Voluntary muscles vs involuntary muscles. Generally this refers to striated or skeletal muscles as opposed to the smooth muscle of the intestine or around blood vessels.
Myogenic muscle contractions are initiated by the muscle cells themselves without external neural stimulation, such as in the heart muscle. Neurogenic muscle contractions require neural input to initiate and control muscle activity, such as in skeletal muscles controlled by the somatic nervous system.