Muscle Tissue

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Biology › Muscle Tissue

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following characteristics is NOT found in skeletal muscle?

Intercalated discs

Sarcomeres

Multinucleated cells

Striations

Explanation

Skeletal muscle is striated due to its sarcomere composition. The bands of each sarcomere align, giving the muscle its striped appearance. Skeletal muscle cells have multiple nuclei, allowing them to synthesize more RNA (and proteins) to maintain muscle tone.

Intercalated discs are only found in cardiac muscle, and help with cell adhesion and signal transduction.

2

Which of the following characteristics is NOT found in skeletal muscle?

Intercalated discs

Sarcomeres

Multinucleated cells

Striations

Explanation

Skeletal muscle is striated due to its sarcomere composition. The bands of each sarcomere align, giving the muscle its striped appearance. Skeletal muscle cells have multiple nuclei, allowing them to synthesize more RNA (and proteins) to maintain muscle tone.

Intercalated discs are only found in cardiac muscle, and help with cell adhesion and signal transduction.

3

Which of the following is NOT a function of muscles?

Calcium storage

Body movement

Maintaining body posture

Generating heat

Explanation

Besides moving the body, muscles are also used to provide heat and stabilize the body. Certain muscles are constantly being stimulated to help maintain posture and stability, even when we are unaware of their action. When body temperature is low, muscles can contract to produce body heat. This is why we shiver when we are cold.

Though some calcium is stored in muscle cell, calcium storage and regulation is primarily accomplished by the skeletal system. Hormones are released to directly influence calcium release or uptake in bone.

4

Which of the following is NOT a function of muscles?

Calcium storage

Body movement

Maintaining body posture

Generating heat

Explanation

Besides moving the body, muscles are also used to provide heat and stabilize the body. Certain muscles are constantly being stimulated to help maintain posture and stability, even when we are unaware of their action. When body temperature is low, muscles can contract to produce body heat. This is why we shiver when we are cold.

Though some calcium is stored in muscle cell, calcium storage and regulation is primarily accomplished by the skeletal system. Hormones are released to directly influence calcium release or uptake in bone.

5

Which of the following is not a characteristic of cardiac muscle tissue?

Multinucleated cells

Striations

Intercalated discs

Involuntary contraction

Explanation

Cardiac muscle cells are involuntarily controlled: we cannot consciously control how fast our heart beats. The muscle cells are composed of aligned sarcomeres, so they appear striated, or striped. They have intercalated discs, which allow action potentials to spread between muscle cells in the heart.

Cardiac muscle cells are not multinucleated; skeletal muscle cells, however, do have multiple nuclei.

6

Which of the following is not a characteristic of cardiac muscle tissue?

Multinucleated cells

Striations

Intercalated discs

Involuntary contraction

Explanation

Cardiac muscle cells are involuntarily controlled: we cannot consciously control how fast our heart beats. The muscle cells are composed of aligned sarcomeres, so they appear striated, or striped. They have intercalated discs, which allow action potentials to spread between muscle cells in the heart.

Cardiac muscle cells are not multinucleated; skeletal muscle cells, however, do have multiple nuclei.

7

Which of the following options lists the organization of muscle structures from the smallest to the largest?

Myofilament, myofibril, muscle fiber

Muscle fiber, myofilament, myofibril

Myofibril, muscle fiber, myofilament

Muscle fiber, myofibril, myofilament

Myofibril, myofilament, muslce fiber

Explanation

This is the correct order because in every muscle fiber there are many myofibrils, and in every myofibril there are many myofilaments. The two main myofilaments are the proteins actin and myosin.

8

Which type of muscle primarily gets strained during heavy exercise?

Cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle

Smooth muscle

Striated muscle

Cardiac muscle

Smooth muscle and cardiac muscle

Explanation

There are three types of muscle tissue. Cardiac muscle is found in the heart, smooth muscle surrounds organs and blood vessels, and skeletal muscle is used to move the skeleton and body.

During periods of heavy exercise, it is the cardiac muscle and skeletal muscles that get worked out. Cardiac muscle is strengthened because it has to pump more oxygenated blood to the body, while skeletal muscles are the muscles we move in order to exercise.

Smooth muscle is not directly related to exercise.

9

What type of muscle tissue is found in the heart?

Cardiac muscle

Striated muscle

Unstriated muscle

Non-striated muscle

Smooth muscle

Explanation

There are three primary types of muscle. Cardiac muscle is composed of striated, mono-nucleated cells and is found in the heart. Additionally, cardiac muscle cells are joined by intercalated discs and are capable of auto-regulating contraction without nervous stimulation.

Skeletal muscle is composed of striated, multinucleated cells and is found around the bones of the body. Skeletal muscle is under voluntary control and is primarily responsible for causing movement of bones and limbs.

Smooth muscle is composed of non-striated, mono-nucleated cells and is found around the organs and blood vessels of the body. Smooth muscle helps control blood flow, digest food, and contract the diaphragm.

10

What are the three different types of muscle tissue?

Smooth, skeletal, and cardiac

Smooth, skeletal, and gastral

Smooth, epithelial, and cardiac

Epidermal, nervous, and fibrous

Connective, separative, and dissociative

Explanation

Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle under the control of the somatic nervous system (voluntary control). Skeletal muscle is striated and contains multiple nuclei.

Smooth muscle is a component of the inner lining of different organs and blood vessels. Smooth muscle is not striated and is mononucleated.

Cardiac muscle is the muscle that allows the heart to contract, thereby pumping blood throughout the body. Cardiac muscle is striated and mononucleated.

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