Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

9. Muscle Tissue

Structure of a Skeletal Muscle

Anatomy & Physiology

9. Muscle Tissue

Structure of a Skeletal Muscle

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Multiple Choice

What is the cause of the striated appearance of skeletal and cardiac muscle?

The uniform distribution of mitochondria

The presence of intercalated discs

The presence of dense bodies

The arrangement of actin and myosin filaments in sarcomeres

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Begin by understanding the structure of muscle fibers, specifically skeletal and cardiac muscle. These muscles are composed of repeating units called sarcomeres.

Sarcomeres are the basic functional units of muscle fibers and are responsible for muscle contraction. They contain organized arrangements of actin (thin filaments) and myosin (thick filaments).

The striated appearance of these muscles is due to the specific arrangement of actin and myosin within the sarcomeres. This arrangement creates alternating light and dark bands visible under a microscope.

The dark bands, known as A bands, contain the entire length of the myosin filaments and some overlapping actin filaments. The light bands, known as I bands, contain only actin filaments.

This pattern of alternating bands is what gives skeletal and cardiac muscle their characteristic striated appearance, distinguishing them from smooth muscle, which lacks this organized banding pattern.