The use of neurons and muscle is utmost for any animal’s survival. The experiment studies the principles of muscle contractions and nerve conductions, and the characteristics of muscle twitches and AP. The nerve and muscle work in conjunction and allow organisms to be motile. Thus looking at the properties and understanding the process has immense influence on science and the world in general. Through the experiment it was determined that an increase in stimulation amplitude in both muscle and neurons correlates positively with their activity. In increase in amplitudes in muscle causes recruitment of more motor unit thus allowing contraction of more muscle fibers. Similarly, increasing intensity in neurons helps increase the CAP by recruiting
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However, there are only a limited motor unit and nerve fibers in a given organism therefore, there will be point at which all the units and fibers will be saturated and the intensity of stimulation. A single AP can cause a twitch in a muscle. The latent time in this experiment was 33 ms. This signifies the time it takes for the stimulus to depolarize the t-tubule, send an AP towards the muscle fiber, activate the Ca++ channels, and to allow actin myosin to join and start a contraction. The rate of contraction compared to the rate of relaxation of the muscle was found to be higher. This is due to Ca++ channels opening and allowing diffusion of Ca++ across the SR membrane down its concentration gradient. However, relaxation requires the use of Calcium ATP transporter, which actively transports Calcium and uses ATP as energy against its concentration gradient. Furthermore, the movement of transporter is slower because it must interact with two molecules (Ca++ and ATP) to transport. When a muscle is overworked, it causes fatigue and results in a longer relaxation period. This can be explained by the use of ATP. After overworking, the ATP reservoir is depleted in a muscle cell due to the need to constantly efflux Ca++ ion …show more content…
This is due to the refractory period of the CAP. At a certain point following a depolarization, the cell hyperpolarizes and causes a destructive effect on the upcoming CAP thus lowering its amplitude. According to this experiment, the relative refractory period of the nerve used was 5 ms. After which the amplitude of the second CAP was not affected. Finally, the changes in temperature also have effect on the duration of CAP. Decreasing the temperature lowers the kinetic energy of the ions thus increasing the time it takes for them to efflux/ influx and slowing the propagation of the CAP. Furthermore, protein also get effected as they are only capable of working at their optimal temperature, changes in temperature may lead to a decrease in activity and slowing down the signal propagation even
However, there are only a limited motor unit and nerve fibers in a given organism therefore, there will be point at which all the units and fibers will be saturated and the intensity of stimulation. A single AP can cause a twitch in a muscle. The latent time in this experiment was 33 ms. This signifies the time it takes for the stimulus to depolarize the t-tubule, send an AP towards the muscle fiber, activate the Ca++ channels, and to allow actin myosin to join and start a contraction. The rate of contraction compared to the rate of relaxation of the muscle was found to be higher. This is due to Ca++ channels opening and allowing diffusion of Ca++ across the SR membrane down its concentration gradient. However, relaxation requires the use of Calcium ATP transporter, which actively transports Calcium and uses ATP as energy against its concentration gradient. Furthermore, the movement of transporter is slower because it must interact with two molecules (Ca++ and ATP) to transport. When a muscle is overworked, it causes fatigue and results in a longer relaxation period. This can be explained by the use of ATP. After overworking, the ATP reservoir is depleted in a muscle cell due to the need to constantly efflux Ca++ ion …show more content…
This is due to the refractory period of the CAP. At a certain point following a depolarization, the cell hyperpolarizes and causes a destructive effect on the upcoming CAP thus lowering its amplitude. According to this experiment, the relative refractory period of the nerve used was 5 ms. After which the amplitude of the second CAP was not affected. Finally, the changes in temperature also have effect on the duration of CAP. Decreasing the temperature lowers the kinetic energy of the ions thus increasing the time it takes for them to efflux/ influx and slowing the propagation of the CAP. Furthermore, protein also get effected as they are only capable of working at their optimal temperature, changes in temperature may lead to a decrease in activity and slowing down the signal propagation even