Clarissa V.
De Lumen October 4, 2021
1BSN5 Anatomy & Physiology
Guide Questions
(Individual task)
Instructions: Answer the questions below. Submit your output to your Google Drive
folder for checking.
1. How does “sliding filament theory” occur? Explain your answer.
The process of muscle contraction where actin myofilaments slide past myosin
myofilaments during contraction is called the sliding filament model of muscle
contraction. During contraction, the actin myofilaments on each side of the
sarcomere move into the H zone, shortening the sarcomere. However, the actin
and myosin myofilament lengths are unchanged.
2. Write the steps on how muscles contract and relax using actin-myosin and
troponin-tropomyosin synergy.
Before the cross-bridges cycle, Ca2+ binds to the troponins, and the
tropomyosins move, exposing active sites on actin myofilaments
The myosin heads bind to the exposed active sites on the actin
myofilaments to form cross-bridges, and phosphates are released from the
myosin heads.
Energy stored in the myosin heads is used to move the myosin heads,
causing the actin myofilaments to slide past the myosin myofilaments, and
ADP molecules are released from the myosin heads
An ATP molecule binds to each of the myosin heads, causing them to
detach from the actin.
The myosin ATPase portion of the myosin heads split ATP into ADP and
phosphate (P), which remain attached to the myosin heads.
The heads of the myosin molecules return to their resting position, and
energy is stored in the heads of the myosin molecules. If Ca2+ is still
attached to troponin, cross-bridge formation and movement are repeated.
This cycle occurs many times during a muscle contraction. Not all cross-
bridges form and release simultaneously.
3. As a nurse, how can you help your patient who suffers from a muscular disease? Cite
at least two muscular diseases. Explain how you can assist your patient to recover or at
least lessen the symptoms they felt with that disease.
The 18-year-old boy got a sprain in his foot while playing basketball, and you may
notice bruising, swelling, or difficulty moving his foot, during the physical exam,
as a nurse, I will check for swelling and points of tenderness in his affected limb.
Also, the location and intensity of his pain can help determine the extent and
nature of the damage. For immediate self-care of a sprain, I will use the R.I.C.E.
approach rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Additionally, Over-the-counter
pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen
(Tylenol, others) also can be helpful.
Elise is 63 years old and she has polymyositis, as a nurse, I will ask her several
questions, such as when did she first notice muscle weakness? Did her condition
develop gradually or did it come on suddenly? Are you easily fatigued during
waking hours? Etc. and if I suspect her have polymyositis, I might suggest some of
the following tests such as Blood tests, Electromyography, Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), Muscle biopsy. Although there's no cure for polymyositis,
treatment can improve your muscle strength and function. The earlier treatment is
started in the course of polymyositis, the more effective it is leading to fewer
complications. Additionally, the medications that I can offer to treat polymyositis
include Corticosteroids, Corticosteroid-sparing agents, Rituximab (Rituxan).
Homework
1. Draw the sliding filament theory on your notebook.
2. Write the steps on how muscle fiber contracts and relaxes
An action potential arrives at the presynaptic terminal, causing Ca2+ channels to
open.
Calcium ions (Ca2+) enter the presynaptic terminal and initiate the release of a
neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), from synaptic vesicles into the presynaptic
cleft.
Diffusion of ACh across the synaptic cleft and binding of ACh to ACh receptors
on the postsynaptic muscle fiber membrane opens Na+ channels.
Sodium ions (Na+) diffuse down their concentration gradient, which results in
depolarization of the muscle fiber membrane; if the threshold has been reached, a
postsynaptic action potential results.
3. Why is it important for you as a nursing student to know how muscle works and the
diseases that involves in the system? Explain your answer.
The muscular system contributes to mobility inside and outside of the body. This system
helps us walk, run and lift objects. That is the function of our bones. They are the reason
why we are able to stand and sit without being one big glob of skin, muscles, and other
organs. We are lucky that we are designed with joints in our skeleton. These bone
junctions allow us to be able to do things like bend our arms and legs and move our
necks. Think for one minute what it would be like to try to walk without being able to
bend your legs at the knees. That would very difficult. Could you imagine trying to run
without bending your legs? Also, it is important to know every disease that involves in
the system because it can affect various aspects of this type of soft tissue, which there are
many different types of. Therefore a problem with the muscular system can adversely
affect the skeletal system.
