Lecture 1

1. Describe, in detail, the structure of cell membranes.
2. How does the structure of the cell membrane reveal/influence the function of that cell?
3. What type of molecules is the cell membrane most permeable to, and most impermeable to? Why?
4. Explain the structure and function of the sodium-potassium pump.
5. Provide concentrations for the main electrolytes and charged molecules that occur within intracellular and extracellular fluid.
6. Be able to calculate the Nernst Potentials for sodium and potassium.
7. Be able to define the Nernst Potential.
8. What determines the resting membrane potential of a cell?
9. What are the different methods a molecule might be able to enter or leave a cell?
10. What are the different types of transport channels in a cell membrane?
11. Explain the differences between the sodium and potassium channels in an excitable membrane.
12. Be able to draw and label the events (regarding sodium and potassium channel function and ion flux across the membrane) that happen during a typical nerve action potential.
13. Are all membrane potentials and action potentials the same in all excitable tissues? Explain.
14. Explain how the action potential crosses a synapse.
15. Explain how multiple nerve input to a synapse within the CNS can influence to continued propagation of an action potential.

Lecture 2

1. How is the Nervous System arranged from an anatomical perspective?
2. How is the Nervous System arranged from a functional perspective?
3. Explain the different receptors and neurotransmitters of the Autonomic Nervous System, and how they differ between the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions.
4. Be able to provide at least some general description of the complexity of CNS involvement in the development and instigation of movement patterns.
5. Be able to locate the motor and somatosensory cortex on a diagram of the brain.
6. Explain the segmental distribution of spinal motor nerves.
7. Provide at least 3 examples of mechano-receptors within the body.
8. Explain the basic function of all receptors. Use one as an example.
9. What is a receptor potential, and how do receptors sense a stimulus and convert it to an action potential?
10. How does the Nervous System signal and interpret the strength of a stimulus?
11. Explain some differences between all the nerves in the body, and how these differences relate to the specific functions of some nerve types.
12. Be able to label components of the muscle spindle, and explain their function in static stretch and dynamic changes in muscle length.

Lecture 3

1. Know the anatomical arrangement and terminology of muscle from whole muscle to contractile proteins.
2. Be able to label the structural and regional components of a sarcomere.
3. Explain the t-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum network and arrangement within skeletal muscle.
4. Be able to label diagrams of the different types of contractile proteins, and their sub-components.
5. Where is the ATPase enzyme located within skeletal muscle?
6. What are the components of the myosin heavy chain?
7. What is the significance of the genetic regulation of the myosin heavy chain?
8. Be able to explain the sequence of events, at the molecular level, of muscle contraction.

Lecture 4:

1. Be able to list 3-4 basic differences between the structure and function of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle.
2. How is cardiac muscle organized to better meet the demands of the circumferential contraction of the heart?
3. What are intercollated discs?
4. If cardiac muscle is not recruited via motor units, how is the strength of a myocardial contraction regulated?
5. Be able to label the events that explain the characteristics of the myocardial action potential.
6. What are the functional benefits of a more prolonged myocardial action potential?
7. How are the contractile proteins of smooth muscle organized?
8. How does calcium regulate smooth muscle contraction?
9. Does smooth muscle have a more efficient (ATP cost is less) contraction mechanism than skeletal or cardiac muscle?  Explain.

 Lecture 5:

1. What does the term “fiber type” refer to?  How do these differ to motor units?
2. Know how to explain the procedures involved in myosin ATPase staining.
3. Be able to interpret histology sections of stained muscle when given specific pre-incubation conditions.
4. What is the PAS stain, and how is it used in research?
5. Be able to list a table of fiber types, providing all distinguishing features.
6. What is the type IIx fiber?
7. How is the molecular biology of the myosin heavy chain being used to further our knowledge of muscle fiber types?

 Lecture 6:

1. Be able to explain the procedure of percutaineous muscle biopsy.
2. Be able to list several limitations of the biopsy procedure when used to quantify muscle fiber type proportions, or changes in muscle metabolism.
3. What does research reveal about the needs/limitations of biopsy for quantifying fiber types?

EXAM 2 Content

 Lecture 7:

1.      Explain the CNS involvement in the development of motor patterns supporting movement.

2.      Explain the events involved in the propagation of the action potential across the neuromuscular junction.

3.      Why might choline be a beneficial ergogenic aid to prolonged exercise?

4.      Briefly explain the differences in the motor neurons that innervate the 4 main types of motor units.

5.      What is the order of motor unit recruitment?  Is this progression as clear/clean as most textbooks indicate?  Explain.

6.      Are there really only four different types of muscle fiber types?  Argue for the existence of a progression of fiber types and motor units.

7.      Why is the PAS stain and subsequent fiber type assessment of muscle glycogen not an ideal method for quantifying fiber type recruitment/involvement in a given exercise condition?

Lecture 8:

1.      Define fatigue in relation to muscle function during exercise.

2.      Provide an in-depth explanation of all factors that contribute to fatigue during short term intense exercise.

3.      What evidence exists to indicate a possible role of the neuromuscular junction or CNS in muscle fatigue?

4.      Explain the profile and duration of recovery from acidosis and creatine phosphate regeneration.

Lecture 9:

1.      What are the main methods used in animal research to study the training effects of muscle contraction?

2.      What are the limitations of these methods?

3.      What is transcription, and what is translation?

4.      How are proteins synthesized?

5.      Why do you think current research is so focused on the regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺?

6.      After heavy resistance training, what changes occur in expression of myosin heavy chain?  Why?  How does this impact how athletes should train for increased muscle power?

7.      Does research evidence exist for muscle stress/stretch as an independent stimulus to adaptation?  Explain.

8.      Does hyperplasia occur in human skeletal muscle?  Explain.