Muscle Histology

Types of Muscle Tissue

Skeletal muscle



Cardiac muscle




Smooth muscle
Types of Muscle Tissue
Skeletal
Attach to and move skeleton
40% of body weight
Fibers = multinucleate cells (embryonic cells fuse)
Cells with obvious striations
Contractions are voluntary

Cardiac: only in the wall of
the heart
Cells are striated
Contractions are
involuntary (not voluntary)
Smooth: walls of hollow organs
Lack striations
Contractions are involuntary (not voluntary)

Similarities
Their cells are called fibers because they
are elongated
Contraction depends on myofilaments
Actin
Myosin
Plasma membrane is called sarcolemma
Sarcos = flesh
Lemma = sheath
Types of skeletal muscle fibers
Fast, slow and intermediate
Whether or not they predominantly use oxygen to
produce ATP (the energy molecule used in muscle
contraction)
Oxidative aerobic (use oxygen)
Glycolytic make ATP by glycolysis (break down of sugars
without oxygen=anaerobic)
Fast fibers: white fibers large, predominantly
anaerobic, fatigue rapidly (rely on glycogen reserves);
most of the skeletal muscle fibers are fast
Slow fibers: red fibers half the diameter, 3X slower,
but can continue contracting; aerobic, more mitochondria,
myoglobin
Intermediate: in between
Type 1 muscle fibers are high in oxidative
activity, low in glycolytic activity and are
red grossly because of a high content of
myoglobin and mitochondrial cytochromes.
They contract slowly, but are capable of
repeated or continuous contraction. The
mnemonic "ONE SLOW RED OX*"
provides a useful image to help remember
the characteristics of this fiber type.
Type 2 muscle fibers are low in oxidative
activity and high in glycolytic activity. They
are white grossly and are capable of rapid
contraction, but cannot maintain repeated
contraction indefinitely. The mnemonic
"TWO FAST WHITE SUGAR*" helps
recall these features. Remembering these
simple details demystifies the otherwise
bewildering array of histochemical stains
that can be applied to frozen sections of
muscle.
ATPase pH 9.4 (Light-type1)
NADH-TR(dark-type1)
SDH(blue mitochondria)
As a general rule, a "checkerboard"
appearance is the norm, with no single
muscle fiber entirely surrounded by
muscle fibers of its own type. When
groups occur and are well-developed, the
question of denervation-reinnervation must
be raised.
Abnormal type1&2 formation