MUSCLE TONE /

CONTROL OF MUSCLE TENSION /

MUSCLE CONTRACTION

Properties of Skeletal Muscle

(1) Excitability
(2) Contractility
(3) Muscle Tone

[Excitability∝Contractility∝Muscle Tone]

(1) Excitability

It define as a reaction or a response of a tissue to a Stimulation.

It is a Electro-Physio-Chamical change.
(it Occar in Motor Unit)
(2) Contractility
It is a response of a tissue to a Stimulation which is define as internal event of Muscle FIBER and
characterised by change in either length or tension in muscles fibres.
Types of muscle work -1. Isometric - Length of Muscle fiber remain Same but M
scle tone will Change.2. Isotonic - Muscle tone remain Same but Length of Muscle fiber

ill change. 2 types -(i) Concentric - Contraction tow

ds the Muscle origin.(ii) Ecentric - Contraction a

from Muscle origin.(3

Muscle Tension (Tone)It is define as a resistance offered by Muscle to stretch. It

s also known as Tonus.It is continuous or partial contraction of Muscle with certain de

ee vigor and tension.Deve

pment of Muscle Tone Muscle tone is a purely a reflex process. This reflex is a Spinal Sagmental refl
ex. It is developed by continual synchronous discharge of Motor impulses from the Gamma Motor Neur
on present in Anterior Gr
y Horn of Spinal cord.Gamma motor neuron and Muscle Spindle are responsible for development and
main

nance of muscle tone.Muscle contraction Occar with Colla

oration of 2 System
-(i) Nervous System

(ii) Muscular Syste

(i) Nervous System-Neuron/Nerve - 2

Types of n
rve fibers.
a. Sensory
b. Motor

Spinal Sagmental reflex -

Neurons (2 Types)-
1. Gamma Motor Neuron
2. Alpha Motor Neuron
2 Types of Nerve fibers-
(A) Alpha Sensory Fibers
(B) Alpha Motor Fibers

(ii) Muscular System -

Skeletal Muscle Spindle (Spindle shaped proprioceptor situated in Muscle) -

2 types of fibres.
a. Intrafusal fibers (Modified Skeletal Muscle fibre)
b. Extrafusal fibers

1. Gamma Motor Neuron (Discharge impulses to Intrafusal fibres of Muscle Spindle.

2. Alpha Motor Neuron - 2 Type of Nerve Fibers - Sensory and Motor.
(a) Sensory (transfer impulse from Intrafusal fibres of Muscle Spindle to Alpha Motor Neuron)
(b) Motor (Transfer order i:e impulse from Alpha Motor Neuron to Extrafusal Fibers of Muscle Spindle)

3. Muscle Spindle - 2 Type of Muscle fibers - (a) Intrafusal Fibres

(b) Extrafusal Fibers

> Gamma Motor Neuron Connected with Intrafusal Fibres Muscle Spindle.
> Alpha Sensory nerve fibre also Connected with Intrafusal Fibres Muscle Spindle.
> Alpha Motor nerve fibre Connected with Extrafusal Fibres Muscle Spindle.

Sequence of Event

1. Impulses from the Gama motor neurone causes contraction of intrafusal fibres of Muscle Spindle.
।
2. This activates the intrafusal fibres, which initiates the reflex action for development of Muscle stretch
contraction.
।
3. This stretch contraction discharges the impulses from the Infrafusel fibres of Muscle Spindle.
।
4. This impulse passes through sensory nerve fibres of Alpha neuron and reach the anterior grey on of
spinal cord.
।
5. These impulses stimulates the Alpha motor neurone of Grey horn of spinal cord.
।
6. Alpha motor neurones send impulses to extra fusion fibres of muscle spindle through motor nerve
fibres.
।
7. These impulses produce partial contraction of the muscle fibre resulting in development of Muscle
tone.
 Regulation of Muscle
Tone

Muscle Tone is maintained and regulated by some Supraspinal centres situated in different parts of
brain.
Some of the centres increases the muscle tone by sending Facilitatory impulses.
While some centres decreases the muscle tone by Inhibitory impulses.

Supra spinal facilitatory centres

1. Motor area for in Cerebral cortex

2. Cerebellum
3. Descending facilitatory reticular system
4. Red nucleus
5. Vestibular nucleus

Supra spinal inhibitory centres

1. Suppressor area of cerebral cortex

2. Basal ganglia
3. Descending inhibitory reticular system

Muscle tension (3 Types)

1. Passive tension
2. Total tension
3. Active tension

1. Passive tension

Tension developed in the muscle during the resting period.

2. Total tension

Tension developed in the muscle during isometric contraction.

3. Active tension

Difference between the passive tension and total tension at a particular length of muscle.

Force

Any influence that causes an object to undergo a certain change concerning its movement, direction, or
geometrical construction.

Muscle Force

The force generated by a muscle depends on the number of actin and myosin cross-bridges formed a
larger number of cross-bridges results in a larger amount of force.

☆ However, cross-bridge formation is not immediate and if myofilaments slide over each other at a
faster rate, their ability to form cross-bridges and subsequent force are both reduced.

Resting length (Ideal length)

The Resting/Ideal length of a muscle is the length at which it can create the greatest Active tension.
Power (FORCE × VELOCITY)

A measure of force × velocity, a measurable output for muscle contraction.

Force of Muscle Contraction

The force, generated by a Muscle is depended on its length and shortening velocity.

The Force - Length relationship

The relationship between sarcomere length and force produced in the muscle.
The force - length relationship indicates that muscles generate the greatest force when at their Resting
(ideal) length, and the least (अल्प) amount of force when shortened or stretched relative to the resting
length.

The Ideal Length of a Sarcomere Sarcomeres produce maximal tension when thick and thin filaments
overlap between about 80 percent to 100 percent, approximately 1.6 to 2.6 micrometers.

The Force - Velocity relationship

The force-velocity relationship describes how muscle force depends upon the velocity of movement or
vice versa.
The relationship between the Speed and Force of muscle contraction, outputted as 'Power'.

Force-Velocity Relationship
As velocity increases force and therefore produced power is reduced.

Force ∝ 1/ Velocity or Velocity ∝ 1/ Force