Jayci Rhoades

Muscle System Lab Report

Mrs. Lafferty
The skeletal muscle structure has many components. It starts with the bone and the
skeletal muscle is connected to the bone by the tendon. The skeletal muscle is covered by
connective tissue such as fascia, and epimysium. The muscle is filled with fascicles. The
outside of the fascicle is covered in perimysium connective tissue. The Fascicles are filled with
muscle fibers that are coated in endomysium connective tissue. They also have sarcolemma
and in between the sarcolemma there is sarcomere. Inside the muscle fibers there is myofibrils,
and microndria. The myofibrils have sarcoplasmic reticulum which includes transverse tubule
and cisternae. the myofibrils put off filaments called myosin and actin. Through out the years
many people have researched skeletal muscles. Alexandre and Francois Fabiato Researched
the effect of pH on the myofilaments and the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cells from
cardiac and skeletal muscles.
Decreasing pH from 7.40 to 6.20 produced an increase in the
[free Ca2+] required for the myofilaments to develop 50% of the maximum tension by a factor of
about 5 in skinned cardiac cells but of only 3 in skeletal muscle fibres (Fabiato 1). Alexandra
McPherron, Ann Lawler, and Se-Jin Lee studied the regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice
by a new superfamily member. Using degenerate polymerase chain reaction, we have
identified a new murine TGF- family member, growth/differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), which is
expressed specifically in developing and adult skeletal muscle (McPherron, Lawler, Lee).
James Spudich and Susan Watt studied the regulation of rabbit skeletal muscle contraction.
Actin purified by a new, simple, and rapid purification procedure activated the ATPase activity of
both heavy meromyosin and Subfragment 1 of heavy meromyosin, and this activation was not
inhibited by the removal of calciyum (Spudich and Watt).

Figure 1. Google draw ing of the skeletal muscle by Jayci Rhoades.

http://w w w .thinglink.com/scene/609455777295368194

There are many steps of muscle contraction. First, the neuron action potential arrives at
the end of the motor neuron. ACH is then released and binds to the receptors on motor end
plate. The p
ermeability of sarcolemma changes as the Na rushes in and an action potential is
produced. Muscle action potential sweeps into the T tubules triggering release of calcium from
the cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium binds to troponin and it changes shape
and shifts tropomyosin to expose binding sites of actin. Myosin binds to the actin and a

Jayci Rhoades
Muscle System Lab Report
Mrs. Lafferty
crossbridge is formed and ADP is released. The myosin head pivots and it releases from the
actin breaking the cross bridge and another ATP binds to the myosin. The myosin then
re-extends to the ready position. (Steps to Muscle Contraction. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16,
2015, from http://quizlet.com/19185/steps-to-muscle-contraction-flash-cards/)

Figure 2. Google draw ing of relaxed sarcomere and contracted sarcomere by Jayci Rhoades

Figure 3. Rabbit myofibers before ATP solution. 100x Photo

by Rachel and Jayci
Length of
myofibers
before ATP
solution

Length of
myofibers
after ATP
solution

initialcontracted
length

degree of
contractioninitial length
x100

trail 1

15mm

10mm

5mm

33.3%

trial 2

15mm

12mm

3mm

20%

trial 3

22mm

15mm

7mm

31.8%

trial 4

18mm

11mm

7mm

38.8%

trial 5

13mm

8mm

5mm

38.4%

Average

32.46%

Figure 5. Data collected on the length of rabbit myofibers during lab

Figure 4. Rabbit myofibers after ATP solution. 100x Photo

by Pedro and Jayci

Jayci Rhoades
Muscle System Lab Report
Mrs. Lafferty

Diameter of
myofibers
before ATP
solution

Diameter of
myofibers
after ATP
solution

initialcontracted
diameter

Degree of
contractedinitial length
x100

trail 1

5mm

11mm

-6mm

-120%

trial 2

7mm

14mm

-7mm

-100%

trial 3

3mm

7mm

-4mm

-133%

trial 4

4mm

6mm

-2mm

-50%

trial 5

6mm

11mm

-5mm

-83%

Average

-97.2%

Figure 5. Data collected on the diameter of rabbit myofibers during lab

While doing the lab we observed variations in the data. The variations were caused by
many different factors. First, we saw variations in the measurements because some people
were using the rulers on the ipads, and others were using the microscope stage. Secondly,
there were variations in the data because we all had different lengths of myofibers, and the
number of myofibers in the bundle each person was looking at varied. Another factor that
caused variations was the temperature of the light on the microscope. Lastly, the amount of
ATP solution each person dropped on the myofibers, and the amount of time they let pass before
measuring again caused variations in the data.
Sprinters and cross country runners have very different muscle fibers. There three
different types of muscle fibers athletes use. There slow-twitch muscle fibers, fast twitch
muscle fibers, and fast twitch A and fast twitch B muscle fibers. Slow twitch fibers have a slow
resistance time and high resistance to fatigue. Fast twitch fibers have a quick contraction time
and a low resistance to fatigue. Fast twitch A fibers have an average resistance to fatigue and it
it is a medium between slow twitch and fast twitch fibers. Fast twitch B muscle fibers are very
sensitive to fatigue and are used for activities such as sprinting, hurdling and jumping. Fast
twitch A muscle fibers and used for running longer distances while fast twitch B muscle fibers
are used for sprinting. Slow twitch muscle fibers are used for things like walking and posture.
(Karp)
Characteristics
of Skeletal
Muscle Fibers

Slow
Oxidative

Fast
OxidativeGlycolytic

Fast
Glycolytic

Fiber diameter

smallest

intermediate

largest

Force

lowest

intermediate

greatest

Myosin ATPase

slowest

fastest

fastest

Contraction
velocity

slow

fast

fast

Methods of ATP
generation

aerobic

respiration

glycolysis

Jayci Rhoades
Muscle System Lab Report
Mrs. Lafferty

Glycogen stores

low

intermediate

high

Capillaries

many

many

few

Myoglobin
content

high

low

low

Color

red-brow

pink

white

Figure 6. Characteristics of Skeletal Muscle Fibers from the Influence of Muscle Fiber Type on Muscle Contraction

Table 1Continuous Grip

Time interval

Maximum force (N)

Maximum force (N)

010 s

79.9

2030 s

63.6

16.3

4050 s

69.3

-5.7

6070 s

48.1

21.2

8090 s

40.6

7.5

Figure 7.Continuous grip data collected from our Grip Strength and Fatigue Lab
Table 2Repetitive Grip
Time interval

Maximum force (N)

Maximum force (N)

010 s

131.8

2030 s

109.7

22.1

4050 s

118.6

-8.9

6070 s

100.7

17.9

8090 s

92.6

7.4

Figure 8. Repetitive grip data collected from our Grip Strength and Fatigue Lab

While participating in the Grip Strength and Fatigue lab the question came up, does
gender affect grip force? Scientists Nicolay and Walker researched the difference between grip
force in males and females and found
W hile larger males produced greater average grip force
than did females, no significant differences existed between the genders in measures of relative
endurance. The dominant hand was significantly stronger than the opposite hand, but also
fatigued more rapidly. This trend was more pronounced in females than in males (Nicolay and
Walker). Morse, Jung, and Bashford researched the force in wrists between males and females
and they found males and flexion exertion produced larger forces than females and extension
exertion (Morse, Jung, and Bashford).

Jayci Rhoades
Muscle System Lab Report
Mrs. Lafferty

Trial 1

Trail 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5

Trial 6

Trial 7

Trial 8

Continuous
grip force
males

328.7

229

262.9

213

183.3

390.7

210

113

Continuous
grip force
females

99

70.3

118.7

184.9

193.9

135.2

79.9

159.8

Repetitive
grip force
males

143.2

350

410

348.2

368

514.4

356

109.8

Repetitive
grip force
females

127

114.3

155.8

214.9

161.7

178.1

131.8

237.4

Figure 9. Class data collected from the Grip Force Lab

The table above shows the maximum repetitive grip force, and the maximum continuous
grip force from eight random males in the class, and 8 random females in the class. The
average maximum continuous grip force in males was 241.33 newtons, and the average
maximum repetitive grip force in males was 324.95 newtons. The average maximum
continuous grip force in females was 130.21 newtons, and the average maximum repetitive grip
force in females was 156.13 newtons. The research done in the lab in class supports the
research that other scientists have done. Males have a higher grip force than women, but
gender does not affect endurance. Every single person in the class was able to grip for 100
seconds no matter if they were a boy or girl. The reason that endurance is not affected is males
and females have the same fast twitch and slow twitch fibers used in grip force, males just tend
to have more strength than females.

Jayci Rhoades
Muscle System Lab Report
Mrs. Lafferty

Works Cited
Fabiato, A., & Fabiato, F. (1978). Effects of pH on the myofilaments and the
sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cells from cardiace and skeletal muscles.
The Journal of
physiology
,
276
(1), 233-255.
Karp, J. (n.d.). Muscle Fiber Types and Training. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from
http://www.coachr.org/fiber.htm
McPherron, A. C., Lawler, A. M., & Lee, S. (1997). Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in
mice by a new TGF-p superfamily member.
387
(6628), 83-90.
Morse, J. L., Jung, M., Bashford, G. R., & Hallbeck, M. S. (2006). Maximal dynamic grip
force and wrist torque: The effects of gender, exertion direction, angular velocity, and wrist angle.
Applied Ergonomics
,
37
(6), 737-742.
Nicolay, C. W., & Walker, A. L. (2005). Grip strength and endurance: Influences of
anthropometric variation, hand dominance, and gender.
International journal of industrial
ergonomics
,
35
(7), 605-618.
Spudich, J. A., & Watt, S. (1971). The regulation of rabbit skeletal muscle contraction I.
Biochemical studies of the interaction of the tropomyosin-troponin complex with actin and the
proteolytic fragments of myosin.
J ournal of Biological Chemistry
,
246
(15), 4866-4871.
Steps to Muscle Contraction. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2015, from
http://quizlet.com/19185/steps-to-muscle-contraction-flash-cards/
Carmeli, E., Patish, H., & Coleman, R. (2003). The aging hand.
The Journals of
Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
,
58
(2), M146-M152.