Exam

Name___________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1) What is the basic function of all muscle tissue? 1)

A) regulate body temperature B) generate muscle tension
C) stabilize joints D) produce voluntary contractions

2) What do skeletal muscle tissue and cardiac muscle tissue share in common? 2)
A) Both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues consist of striated muscle cells.
B) Both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues possess intercalated discs.
C) Both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues are voluntary.
D) Both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues perform peristalsis.

3) What characteristic is NOT descriptive of cardiac muscle tissue? 3)

A) located in the heart B) striations
C) voluntary muscle contractions D) intercalated discs

4) The degree to which a muscle cell can stretch depends on its: 4)

A) distensibility. B) conductivity. C) excitability. D) contractility.

5) The plasma membrane of a muscle cell is known as the: 5)

A) sarcomere. B) myofibril.
C) sarcolemma. D) sarcoplasmic reticulum.

6) The storage and release of calcium ions is the key function of the: 6)
A) sarcoplasmic reticulum. B) mitochondrion.
C) sarcolemma. D) sarcoplasm.

7) Deep inward extensions of the sarcolemma form a tunnel-like network inside the muscle cell 7)
known as:
A) myofibrils. B) the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
C) myofilaments. D) transverse tubules (T-tubules).

8) A triad consists of: 8)

A) actin filaments, troponin, and tropomyosin.
B) a fascicle of skeletal muscle cells and its surrounding perimysium.
C) myosin filaments, myosin heads, and myosin tails.
D) a transverse tubule (T-tubule) and two terminal cisternae.

9) Which protein does NOT belong in a thin filament? 9)

A) troponin B) actin C) tropomyosin D) myosin

10) Which of the following is descriptive of skeletal muscle fibers? 10)

A) Skeletal muscle fibers are smaller than most cells.
B) Skeletal muscle fibers are uninucleate.
C) Skeletal muscle fibers lack a sarcolemma and myofibrils.
D) Skeletal muscle fibers are striated.

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11) Which of the following wraps and surrounds an individual skeletal muscle fiber? 11)
A) perimysium B) epimysium
C) sarcoplasmic reticulum D) endomysium

12) What anchors thin and elastic filaments in place within the myofibril? 12)
A) I band B) A band C) Z disc D) M line

13) The central region of the A band that lacks thin filaments is the: 13)
A) Z disc. B) sarcomere. C) I band. D) H zone.

14) What is the functional contractile unit of the myofibril where muscle tension is produced? 14)
A) sarcomere B) I band C) sarcolemma D) A band

15) Which of the following statements is the most accurate description of the sliding filament 15)
mechanism?
A) Thick filaments shorten while thin filaments remain unchanged.
B) Z discs slide over the thick and thin filaments.
C) Both thick and thin filaments shorten.
D) Thin filaments slide past thick filaments towards the M line.

16) Muscle contraction can occur when: 16)

A) sarcomeres shorten. B) I bands remain unchanged.
C) myosin filaments shorten. D) A bands lengthen.

17) When a skeletal muscle fiber contracts: 17)

A) Z discs move farther apart while the A bands shorten.
B) the H zone narrows while the I bands widen.
C) the A bands shorten while the I bands lengthen.
D) the H zone and I bands narrow.

18) A muscle cell experiencing resting membrane potential is: 18)

A) polarized.
B) more negatively charged on its exterior than in its interior.
C) propagating an action potential.
D) experiencing depolarization.

19) Where should most of the potassium ions be located when a muscle cell is at rest? 19)
A) sarcoplasmic reticulum B) cytosol of the muscle cell
C) transverse tubules (T-tubules) D) extracellular fluid

20) The Na+/K + pump helps a muscle cell maintain a state of: 20)
A) depolarization. B) propagation.
C) action potential. D) resting membrane potential.

21) Which of the following promotes the depolarization stage? 21)

A) opening of voltage-gated sodium ion channels and sodium ions enter the cell
B) opening of voltage-gated potassium ion channels and potassium ions exit the cell
C) hydrolysis of ATP
D) closure of voltage-gated sodium ion channels

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22) What value best represents resting membrane potential of skeletal muscle cells? 22)
A) −90 mV B) 0 mV C) +35 mV D) +15 mV

23) The synapse of a motor neuron with a muscle fiber is known as the: 23)
A) synaptic bulb. B) motor end plate.
C) synaptic cleft. D) neuromuscular junction.

24) Where are receptors for acetylcholine located? 24)

A) axon terminal B) sarcomere
C) triad D) motor end plate

25) Place the following events of excitation in the correct order. 25)
1. ion channels on the sarcolemma open and sodium ions enter the muscle fiber
2. the entry of sodium ions into the muscle fiber depolarizes the sarcolemma locally
3. acetylcholine is released from vesicles in the motor neuron into the synaptic cleft
4. an action potential arrives at the axon terminal of a motor neuron
5. acetylcholine binds to ligand-gated sodium ion channels in the motor end plate
A) 4, 5, 3, 2, 1 B) 3, 4, 5, 1, 2 C) 4, 3, 5, 1, 2 D) 2, 4, 3, 5, 1

26) When an action potential arrives in an axon terminal, synaptic vesicles containing acetylcholine are 26)
released by:
A) facilitated diffusion. B) exocytosis.
C) osmosis. D) endocytosis.

27) What does the depolarization of the transverse tubules (T-tubules) promote? 27)
A) release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
B) release of acetylcholine from vesicles in the motor neuron into the synaptic cleft
C) entry of sodium ions into the muscle fiber through voltage-gated sodium ion channels
D) binding of acetylcholine to ligand-gated sodium ion channels

28) What is required for excitation-contraction coupling? 28)

A) calcium ions and ATP B) calcium ions only
C) neither calcium ions nor ATP D) ATP only

29) Once excitation-contraction coupling has occurred, calcium ion concentration increases 29)
dramatically in the:
A) terminal cisterna. B) cytosol of the muscle fiber.
C) sarcolemma. D) sarcoplasmic reticulum.

30) The binding of a myosin head to an actin molecule is termed a: 30)

A) power stroke. B) crossbridge. C) triad. D) synaptic cleft.

31) During muscle contraction, myosin crossbridges bind to active sites on: 31)
A) troponin. B) actin. C) T-tubules. D) tropomyosin.

32) What is accomplished by the power stroke? 32)

A) The power stroke results in myosin heads pulling actin toward the center of the sarcomere.
B) The power stroke cocks the myosin head into its high-energy position.
C) The power stroke allows the myosin heads to bind to actin.
D) The power stroke causes the myosin and actin filaments to shorten and contract.

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33) What happens when troponin and tropomyosin block the active sites of actin? 33)
A) The muscle contraction increases tension.
B) The muscle relaxes.
C) The muscle contraction reaches peak tension.
D) The muscle produces a weak contraction.

34) The main immediate source of ATP (lasting about 10 seconds) as muscle contractions begin comes 34)
from:
A) fat. B) glucose.
C) glycogen. D) creatine phosphate.

35) What is a necessary reactant for glycolytic, or anaerobic, catabolism to proceed? 35)
A) oxygen B) creatine phosphate
C) myoglobin D) glucose

36) A pathway of ATP production that results in the formation of lactic acid is: 36)
A) glycolytic catabolism. B) oxidative catabolism.
C) anabolism. D) aerobic catabolism.

37) What are possible products of glycolytic, or anaerobic, catabolism? 37)

A) creatine phosphate only B) ATP, pyruvate, and lactic acid
C) oxygen only D) glucose only

38) Which statement best describes the function of myoglobin? 38)

A) Myoglobin hydrolyzes ATP.
B) Myoglobin catabolizes glycogen.
C) Myoglobin is a source of ATP for muscles.
D) Myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle cells.

39) Through which ATP-generating mechanism can long-lasting muscle contractions be sustained? 39)
A) oxidative catabolism B) glycolysis
C) creatine phosphate reaction D) anaerobic catabolism

40) Between the start of the latent period and the start of the contraction period, there is a time interval 40)
during which the muscle cannot respond to another stimulus. This brief period is known as the:
A) relaxation period. B) tension period.
C) refractory period. D) action potential.

41) Latrotoxin, produced by the poisonous black widow spider, increases the release of acetylcholine. 41)
How do muscle cells respond?
A) Muscle cells will experience a longer latent period when excess acetylcholine exists.
B) Muscle cells will twitch irregularly when excess acetylcholine exists.
C) Muscle cells will become paralyzed when excess acetylcholine exists.
D) Muscle cells will experience fused or complete tetanus when excess acetylcholine exists.

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42) Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that produces botulinum toxin that inhibits the release of 42)
acetylcholine. Which description best fits how muscle cells will respond to a lack of acetylcholine?
A) Muscle cells will produce sustained contractions without relaxation when there is a lack of
acetylcholine.
B) Muscle cells will become paralyzed when there is a lack of acetylcholine.
C) Muscle cells will experienced fused or complete tetanus when there is a lack of acetylcholine.
D) Muscle cells will produce greater tension when there is a lack of acetylcholine.

43) When muscle fibers are stimulated so frequently they do not have an opportunity to relax, they are 43)
experiencing:
A) unfused or incomplete tetanus. B) a twitch.
C) wave summation. D) fused or complete tetanus.

44) Type I fibers lack: 44)

A) a blood supply. B) speed. C) myoglobin. D) mitochondria.

45) The fastest muscle contraction would be produced by a: 45)

A) type IIx fiber. B) type I fiber. C) type IIa fiber. D) type III fiber.

46) Which fiber type allows Frances to stand for hours in her job as a nurse? 46)
A) type I fiber B) type IIa fiber C) type III fiber D) type IIx fiber

47) A single motor neuron together with all the skeletal muscle fibers it innervates is called a: 47)
A) neuromuscular junction. B) synaptic cleft.
C) motor end plate. D) motor unit.

48) Resting muscles still have some degree of muscle tension produced by involuntary activation of 48)
motor units in the brain and spinal cord. This small amount of muscle tension is known as:
A) muscle tone. B) isotonic contraction.
C) fused (complete) tetanus. D) recruitment.

49) Jorge tried to pick up his sofa but discover that it is much heavier than he expected. What must 49)
occur in the muscle to increase tension so he can pick up this heavy piece of furniture?
A) isotonic eccentric contractions B) tetanic spasm
C) pliometric contraction D) recruitment of additional motor units

50) The type of contraction in which length of the muscle fibers do not change is called: 50)
A) isotonic concentric. B) isometric.
C) tetany. D) isotonic eccentric.

51) What type of contraction requires the greatest amount of tension? 51)
A) miometric contraction B) isometric contraction
C) isotonic concentric contraction D) isotonic eccentric contraction

52) In response to physical inactivity, we expect to see muscles: 52)

A) increase numbers of myofibrils. B) atrophy.
C) hypertrophy. D) increase the diameter of the muscle fiber.

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 53) Larry's muscles weakened while he played tennis for hours on a hot summer afternoon. This 53)
inability to maintain intensity is defined as:
A) atrophy. B) muscular fatigue.
C) hypertonia. D) hypotonia.

54) During the recovery period after exercise, we breathe deeper and faster. This increased rate of 54)
respiration is known as:
A) excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).
B) muscular fatigue.
C) lactic acid buildup.
D) oxidative catabolism.

55) Smooth muscle and skeletal muscle both possess: 55)

A) motor end plates. B) myosin and actin filaments.
C) troponin. D) transverse tubules (T-tubules).

56) What do skeletal muscle contractions share in common with smooth muscle contractions? 56)
A) Both types of contractions generate little force or a weak force.
B) Both types of contractions result from thick and thin filaments sliding past one another.
C) Both types of contractions do not require calcium ions for a contraction to occur.
D) Both types of contractions consume very little ATP.

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.

57) Explain the structure and function of the endomysium.

58) Define excitability.

59) What are the inward extensions of the sarcolemma into the muscle cell called? What function do these
extensions serve?

60) Describe the roles of contractile and regulatory proteins in the myofibril.

61) What is the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum?

62) List and describe the types of contractile and regulatory proteins found in a thin filament.

63) Describe the bands that create the light and dark areas of skeletal muscle fibers known as striations.

64) Explain how a sarcomere is affected when thin filaments slide past thick filaments during muscle contraction.

65) Briefly discuss the role of the myosin heads in the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction.

66) Explain where sodium and potassium ions are located relative to a muscle cell during resting membrane
potential.

67) Explain the role sodium ions play in the depolarization stage of the action potential.

68) Describe the synaptic cleft.

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 69) Explain the role of acetylcholine in the excitation phase of excitation-contraction coupling.

70) Describe the role of calcium in the regulation of the troponin-tropomyosin complex.

71) Summarize the steps of the crossbridge cycle.

72) Explain why myoglobin is useful to oxidative (aerobic) catabolism.

73) Describe the events of the relaxation period of a muscle twitch.

74) Determine how muscles are affected if the muscle receives stimulations so frequently that it has no opportunity
to relax between them.

75) Discuss the type of contractions produced by type I muscle fibers.

76) Determine the type of muscle contraction needed to lower a heavy bowling ball down by your side so you can
roll it down the lane.

77) How does hypertrophy change a muscle? Does endurance training or resistance training promote muscle
hypertrophy?

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.

78) Skeletal muscle fibers possess intercalated discs. 78)

79) Contractility is the ability of a muscle to shorten. 79)

80) The function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is to store and release calcium ions. 80)

81) Elastic fibers are important to muscle tissue since they resist excessive stretching and help muscle 81)
fibers spring back to its original length after being stretched.

82) In a sarcomere, the light and dark bands are produced by alternating M lines and Z discs. 82)

83) Myofilaments shorten to produce muscle contractions according to the sliding filament 83)
mechanism.

84) Electrical gradients exist because sodium and potassium ions are separated on either side of the 84)
plasma membrane.

85) The Na+/K + ATPase (Na + /K + pump) maintains the concentration gradients for sodium and 85)
potassium ions by moving two sodium ions out of the cell and three potassium ions into the cell.

86) The loss of potassium ions from the cell during the repolarization stage restores a membrane 86)
potential of -90 mV.

87) The entry of acetylcholine into a muscle cell through ligand-gated ion channels depolarizes the 87)
sarcolemma locally.

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88) ATP is required for a power stroke to be repeated during the contraction cycle. 88)

89) The return of calcium ions to the sarcoplasmic reticulum during muscle relaxation decreases the 89)
calcium ion concentration in the cytosol.

90) Creatine phosphate provides 30-40 seconds of energy for muscle activity. 90)

91) Greater muscle tension results when muscle fibers are repeatedly stimulated. 91)

92) Type IIx fibers produce the fastest, strongest twitches of any muscle fiber type. 92)

93) Cindy's leg muscles displayed a state of hypotonia since her arm was recently removed from a 93)
cast.

94) Both isotonic eccentric contractions and isotonic concentric contractions shorten the muscle. 94)

95) Jack has decided to take up jogging as a way to enhance his endurance training. 95)

96) Decreased oxygen availability leads to muscular fatigue. 96)

97) Cardiac muscles perform peristalsis to pump blood through the heart. 97)

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MATCHING. Choose the item in column 2 that best matches each item in column 1.

Match the following:

98) Ability of muscle tissue to return to its A) I band

98)
original shape after being stretched
B) excitability
99) Ability of proteins within the muscle
99)
cells to draw together C) distensibility

100) Electrical changes travel along the D) M line 100)

plasma membrane
E) A band
101) Ability of muscle cells to respond to
101)
stimuli
F) H zone

102) Ability of muscle cells to stretch

G) conductivity 102)
without damage

H) elasticity
103) This structure attaches myofibrils to
103)
one another
I) Z-disc
104) Region that contains both thick and
J) contractility 104)
thin filaments

105) Thin and elastic filaments are

105)
anchored to this structure

106) Middle portion of the A band that

106)
contains thick filaments only

107) Middle line of the A band

107)

108) Region that contains only thin

108)
filaments

109) The sarcomere is situated between

109)
two of these adjacent structures

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.

110) On a laboratory exam, you are asked to identify various muscle tissues through the microscope. Describe the
characteristics you will use to differentiate among the three types of muscle tissue.

111) Describe the role of calcium in the crossbridge cycle of the sliding filament mechanism.

112) The nerve gas, sarin, was used during World War II as chemical warfare. Sarin inhibits the effects of
acetylcholinesterase at the synapse. Predict how sarin will affect excitation.

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113) Kelly is examining a myogram showing contractions of the gastrocnemius muscle. Assess how she should
differentiate unfused (incomplete) tetanus from fused (complete) tetanus.

114) Gowoon wants to be a long-distance runner and participate in competitions on her high school track and field
team. Describe the specific type of skeletal muscle fiber which will help her excel at her sport. What type of
training should she perform to enhance the capabilities of this particular fiber type?

115) Mr. Bailey, a 58-year-old man, wants to add muscle mass to his frame since he has noticed he is not as strong as
he used to be. Discuss the type of physical training you have determined will help him add strength to his
muscles. How will your choice help him achieve his goal? What muscle changes do you think he will
experience as he begins your training?

116) What purpose do gap junctions serve in cardiac and smooth muscle tissues?

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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED10

1) B
2) A
3) C
4) A
5) C
6) A
7) D
8) D
9) D
10) D
11) D
12) C
13) D
14) A
15) D
16) A
17) D
18) A
19) B
20) D
21) A
22) A
23) D
24) D
25) C
26) B
27) A
28) A
29) B
30) B
31) B
32) A
33) B
34) D
35) D
36) A
37) B
38) D
39) A
40) C
41) D
42) B
43) D
44) B
45) C
46) A
47) D
48) A
49) D
50) B
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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED10

51) D
52) B
53) B
54) A
55) B
56) B
57) Muscle tissue consists of muscle cells (myocytes) and their surrounding extracellular matrix, known as endomysium.
The endomysium blends with surrounding connective tissue and holds the muscle cells together within muscle tissue
and transmits tension generated by muscle cells to neighboring cells.
58) Excitability is the ability of a muscle cell to respond to a stimulus.
59) Inward extensions of the sarcolemma are known as transverse tubules (T-tubules). During excitation-contraction
coupling, the action potential is carried down the T-tubules into the depths of the muscle fiber to stimulate the release
of calcium ions from the terminal cisternae.
60) Contractile proteins produce tension while regulatory proteins control when the muscle can contract.
61) The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stores and releases calcium ions, activities vital to muscle contraction and relaxation.
62) A thin filament is composed of actin, tropomyosin, and troponin. Actin is a contractile protein. Actin has an area
known as an active site that can bind a myosin head. Strings of actin molecules form the largest part of the thin
filament. Tropomyosin is a regulatory protein that spirals around the actin strands and covers the active sites.
Troponin is a second regulatory protein that holds tropomyosin in place and binds a calcium ion.
63) I bands and A bands create the light and dark areas known as striations on a skeletal muscle fiber. I bands, or light
bands, contain only thin filaments. These bands are lighter because they allow more light to pass through. A bands, or
dark bands, contain thick filaments. The thick filaments block more light than the thin filaments.
64) As thin filaments slide past thick filaments during the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction, the
sarcomere becomes shorter with each contraction. The action of the sliding filaments draws the Z discs closer together
and causes the sarcomere as a whole to shorten as the filaments overlap.
65) The interaction of thin filaments sliding past thick filaments generates tension throughout the sarcomere during
muscle contraction. This is known as the sliding filament mechanism. Myosin heads of the thick filaments grab active
sites on thin filaments and pull the thin filaments toward the M line as the myosin heads rotate. The pulling action
brings the Z discs closer together and shortens the sarcomere. Neither the thin nor the thick filaments actually shorten;
instead the thin filaments are pulled and slide toward the M line.
66) A membrane is considered polarized in its resting state when opposite charges are located on either side of the
membrane. At rest, the concentration of sodium ions is greater in the extracellular fluid and lower in the cytosol due
to the actions of the Na+/K + ATPase pump. Potassium ion concentration is higher in the cytosol and lower in the
extracellular fluid at rest.
67) Positively charged sodium ions make the membrane potential become less negative during depolarization. Sodium
ions rush into a muscle cell with their concentration gradient when voltage-gated sodium ion channels open. The
membrane potential reaches a peak of +30 mV.
68) The synaptic cleft is the narrow gap of space between the axon terminal and the muscle fiber into which acetylcholine
is released. The synaptic cleft is one of the three parts of the neuromuscular junction.
69) Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter responsible for triggering changes in skeletal muscle cells. When released by axon
terminals into the synaptic cleft, acetylcholine binds to ligand-gated ion channels in the motor end plate of the skeletal
muscle. Upon binding the receptors, sodium ion channels open and sodium ions enter the muscle fiber to produce a
local depolarization in the skeletal muscle leading to the muscle cell's action potential.
70) Calcium binds troponin upon its release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum when the skeletal muscle fiber is excited. As
a result of the binding, tropomyosin shifts and moves revealing active sites on actin. As the muscle relaxes, calcium
ions are pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Without calcium, troponin and tropomyosin return to their
positions blocking the active sites on actin. Myosin heads are prevented from binding and muscle contraction is
inhibited.

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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED10

71) During the crossbridge cycle, a myosin head binds to an active site on actin that leads to the sliding of myofilaments.
ATP hydrolysis cocks the myosin head into its high energy position. ADP and a phosphate remain attached to the
myosin head. The myosin head binds to an active site on actin. When ADP and the phosphate detach from the myosin
head, the power stroke occurs in which myosin pulls actin toward the center of the sarcomere. ATP is needed for the
release of the myosin head from actin so that this crossbridge cycle can repeat again.
72) Oxidative (aerobic) catabolism is the reason we need oxygen to survive. Myoglobin binds oxygen that has diffused
into the muscle cell from the extracellular fluid. Oxygen is released from myoglobin as mitochondria perform
oxidative catabolism. Oxidative catabolism utilizes oxygen to produce ATP. Thus myoglobin supplements oxygen
delivery to mitochondria.
73) During relaxation, tension decreases as calcium ions are pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) for
storage. Tropomyosin blocks the active sites on actin and the muscle relaxes.
74) Fused, or complete, tetanus can occur when a muscle receives no opportunity to relax between frequent stimulations.
A sustained contraction occurs because the muscle cell has received a stimulus before the last twitch is over.
75) Type I muscle fibers are slow-twitch fibers. Although contractions are slower and less forceful, Type I fibers can
maintain contractions over extended periods of time as they are slow to fatigue.
76) An isotonic eccentric contraction results in muscle lengthening and is the type of contraction that allows you to lower
a heavy load. Motor units must generate tension while the sarcomere stretch and lengthen.
77) Hypertrophy is an increase in both the number of myofibrils and the diameter of the muscle fibers. With hypertrophy
comes a decreased proportion of mitochondrial proteins and blood supply to a muscle. This decrease is a function of
the fiber enlarging rather than actually losing mitochondria or blood vessels. Resistance training promotes muscle
hypertrophy.
78) FALSE
79) FALSE
80) TRUE
81) TRUE
82) FALSE
83) FALSE
84) TRUE
85) FALSE
86) TRUE
87) FALSE
88) TRUE
89) TRUE
90) FALSE
91) TRUE
92) TRUE
93) TRUE
94) FALSE
95) TRUE
96) TRUE
97) FALSE
98) H
99) J
100) G
101) B
102) C
103) I
104) E
105) I
106) F
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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED10

107) D
108) A
109) I
110) First, look for light and dark bands known as striations to help you differentiate between striated muscle tissue
(cardiac and skeletal) and non-striated muscle tissue (smooth). To determine the difference between the two types of
striated muscle tissue, look for long, multinucleated cells that are arranged parallel to one another in skeletal muscle
tissue. By contrast, cardiac muscle cells are shorter and wider, branched, and generally have only one or two nuclei.
Intercalated discs are unique to cardiac muscle cells. Finally, non-striated muscle tissue is smooth muscle tissue.
Smooth muscle cells are long and flattened with two pointed ends (spindle-shaped). These cells often have a single,
centrally located oval nucleus.
111) Calcium ions released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum bind to troponin. Upon binding, tropomyosin moves and the
active sites of actin filaments are now exposed. Once the active sites are exposed, crossbridge formation may
commence when myosin heads bind to the active sites on the actin filaments. A crossbridge cycle is now initiated in
which the thick and thin filaments slide past one another.
112) Acetylcholinesterase promotes muscle relaxation by degrading acetylcholine that remains in the synaptic cleft.
Acetylcholinesterase breaks down the acetylcholine into substances that can no longer stimulate the muscle. Without
adequate acetylcholinesterase available to perform this job, acetylcholine will continue to excite the muscle cell by
binding to ligand-gated sodium ion channels in the motor end plate. Ion channels will open and the entry of sodium
ions into the muscle cell will create a local depolarization. Muscles will be unable to relax if acetylcholine is
continually present in the synaptic cleft without the degrading effects of acetylcholinesterase.
113) On the myogram, although maximum tension can be achieved, the muscle has opportunities to partially relax
between contractions. Pulsating tension results (unfused tetanus) in which the muscle relaxes slightly, then tension
increases a little more with each successive muscle twitch. Muscles experiencing fused tetanus have no opportunity
for relaxation between stimuli since the stimuli arrive more frequently at the muscle (approximately 80-100 stimuli per
second). On the myogram, maximum tension would be achieved through fused tetanus while the muscle experiences
a sustained contraction without relaxation.
114) Type I fibers are slow-twitch fibers that can maintain extended periods of contraction. Since these fibers use large
quantities of ATP to maintain contractions, they utilize oxidative catabolism. Oxidative catabolism can provide ATP
for hours. Myoglobin present in these muscle fibers binds oxygen to help supply the oxidative generation of ATP.
Gowoon should focus on endurance training which will result in an increase in the number of mitochondria and a
greater blood supply (more blood vessels). Endurance training helps type I muscles utilize resources to make ATP and
resist fatigue.
115) Resistance training, or strength training, will help Mr. Bailey add strength to his muscles. Resistance training increases
the number of myofibrils, therefore increasing the diameter of the muscle fibers. Thus, his muscles can hypertrophy
with this type of exercise. To achieve his goal, Mr. Bailey should use free weights or a resistance-exercise machine.
However, a trade-off of muscle hypertrophy is the loss of endurance that comes with the proportionally fewer
mitochondria and blood vessels in the muscle tissue compared to the results of endurance training. If he chooses
resistance training alone, he may experience a decreased capacity for endurance.
116) Gap junctions electrically link muscle cells together so that action potentials spread rapidly through the cells. Cells in
single-unit smooth muscle contract together as a single unit due to the presence of gap junctions. By contrast, smooth
muscle tissue that lacks these gap junctions do not work together and contract as a single unit. Cardiac muscle tissue
possesses gap junctions to allow the heart to contract as a unit to act functionally as a pump.

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