Neuromuscular System

Muscle Fibre Types

Starter Activity
• Do we all have the same muscle fibre types?
 Characteristics and functions of different
muscle fibre types for a variety of sporting
activities.
Slow twitch (type I)

• The structural properties of slow twitch

muscle fibres allow them to contract
against low resistances for extended
periods of time.

• They are well equipped to resist fatigue

and sustain activity at low-moderate
intensity, making them the preferred
muscle fibre type for endurance athletes
such as marathon runners.
Fast oxidative glycolytic (type IIa)

• These fibres share characteristics with

both the slow oxidative fibres and fast
glycolytic ones.

• They have the structural properties

required for both anaerobic and aerobic
respiration and act as the middle ground
between the other two in terms of
contractile force, contractile speed and
resistance to fatigue.

• Games players that are required to move

in a range of intensities and durations will
prefer FOG muscle fibres due to their
versatility.
Fast glycolytic (type IIx)

• These fibres have the greatest anaerobic

capabilities out of the 3 types. The fibres
are large and plentiful and can generate
high amounts of force, very quickly.

• Due to their limited capillary network

and mitochondria count, they are the
least equipped fibre type to complete
aerobic respiration.

• Explosive sports such as shotput and

100m are suited to fast glycolytic fibres.
 Type 1 Slow Oxidative Type 2a Fast Oxidative Type 2b Fast Glycolytic
Glycolytic
Structural Characteristics
Density of capillaries
Fibre size
Myoglobin quantity
Glycogen storage space
Phosphocreatine storage space

Triglyceride storage space

Mitochondrial density
Functional Characteristics
Contractile speed
Contractile force
Fatigue resistance
Anaerobic capabilities
Aerobic capabilities
In Pairs…
• How do the following characteristics of muscle
fibre type differ between each type?
• Glycogen storage
• Contractile force
• Resistance to fatigue

• Explain which fibre type a long jumper would

prefer to have in abundance.

• Explain the structural characteristics that Type I

muscle fibres have that makes them the preferred
muscle fibre for endurance athletes.
 Type 1 Slow Oxidative Type 2a Fast Oxidative Type 2b Fast Glycolytic
Glycolytic
Structural Characteristics
Density of capillaries High Medium Low
Fibre size Small Large Large
Myoglobin quantity High Medium Low
Glycogen storage space Small Large Large
Phosphocreatine storage space Small Large Large

Triglyceride storage space Large Medium Small

Mitochondrial density High Medium Low
Functional Characteristics
Contractile speed Slow Fast Fast
Contractile force Low Medium High
Fatigue resistance High Medium Low
Anaerobic capabilities Low High High
Aerobic capabilities High Medium Low
 Neural Control of
Muscular
Contraction
• The central nervous system sends impulses to muscles.
The strength and frequency of these impulses
determines the quantity of muscle that contracts, and
the speed in which it contracts.

• These impulses are known as Action Potential, and when

the AP threshold of a muscle is reached by the incoming
impulses, chemical processes occur at the
neuromuscular junction and muscle fibres contract,
sliding over one another, shortening the muscle and
causing the bones they are attached to move as well.

• When the CNS reduces or stops the frequency and

strength of the impulses, the action potential will drop
below the required threshold once more, and the fibres
will cease contracting.
 Motor units.
• A motor unit is the motor neuron and the
muscle fibres that it is connected to and
innervates. A motor unit can include anywhere
from tens of fibres, up to hundreds of fibres.
• Larger motor units are found in larger muscle
groups and can generate the most force. When
the action potential of the motor unit is
reached, every fibre within it will contract. This
is known as the all or none law.
• The larger the motor unit, the harder it is to
vary the contractile force. This is why for fine
motor skills, the Central Nervous System
engages small motor units that can be used in
conjunction with other small motor units to
create the most accurate amount of force for
the desired action.
• Conversely, for gross, high intensity

MUSCLE FIBRE MOTOR movements, the CNS engages larger motor

units with greater contractile force potential.
Motor units are made predominantly by one
UNIT RECRUITMENT fibre type. This allows the body to recruit the
appropriate fibre type for the desired action.
 All or None Law
• This is a principle that essentially means that a
fibre can only be contracting or not.
• There is no middle ground, or moderate option
that can take place. Once the action potential
threshold of a motor unit is reached by the
nerve impulses, all fibres within it will contract
fully.
• There is no partial contraction that can alter
overall contractile force.
• To alter contractile force, the CNS will need to
innervate different combinations of motor
units that equal the required level of force for
the movement.
By yourself…
• What is a motor unit and explain its relevance to the
all or none law.

• What impact does the size of a motor unit have on

its use in different sporting contexts?

• Using the words and phrases below, summarise

neural control of muscular contractions.

• Action Potential
• Threshold
• Central Nervous System
• Neuron
• Neuromuscular junction
• Impulse
• Contraction
 Spatial summation

• This occurs when impulses are received at the

same time at different places on the neurone
which add up to fire the neurone.

• It is the recruitment of additional and bigger

motor units within a muscle to develop the force.

• A sporting example – a basketballer jumping for a

rebound
 Wave summation
• Following the arrival of a sufficient impulse to
overcome the excitatory threshold of a muscle
fibre, full contraction occurs, followed by a period
of relaxation wherein the fibre and its chemical
process can reset to its resting form.

• However, if a second impulse of sufficient action

potential were to arrive before the relaxation
phase completes, then a new contraction will
occur with greater force as it has started with pre-
existing tension left in the muscle from the
previous contraction.

• This process can be repeated in short succession,

culminating in the gradual increase of a muscles
contractile force.
Tetanic Contraction
• Should wave summation persist inside a
motor unit, eventually there will be no time
for any relaxation to occur.

• Instead the frequency of impulses arriving at

the muscle merge into one of constant
innervation.

• At this point, the muscle will remain in a

state of maximal contraction and tension
until a time of rest or fatigue.
PROPRIOCEPTORS
Muscle spindles
• These are a type of proprioceptor that detect
changes in the tension of muscle fibres. They lie
adjacent to muscle fibres, so when a muscle Muscle
Spindle
stretches, they experience a similar change in
tension as the fibres do.
• When a sudden stretch is detected, the
information is relayed to the central nervous
system that initiates an autonomic response by Muscle
Fibre
returning an impulse back to the muscle under
tension, and causes it to contract.
• For a muscle in an antagonistic pair, this Golgi
returning impulse may be split between the 2 Tendon
Organ
muscles, half causes the contraction of the
muscle under tension, the other stimulates the
Tendon
relaxation of the antagonist.
 Golgi tendon
organs
• These are also a type of proprioceptor.
They reside in tendons and detect
changes in muscular tension.
• However, while spindles play the role of
causing contraction as a form of
immediate protection, GTO’s attempt to
relax the muscle, reducing the level of
tension that the muscle will stretch under.
• GTO’s have the ability to override the spindles
immediate response, which is why in
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation an
isometric muscle contraction is completed (to fulfil
the spindles stretch reflex) prior to stretching it
further in its new relaxed state brought about by
GTO involvement.
In Pairs…
• How does the theory of wave
summation impact on muscular
contractions?

• Explain how spatial summation can lead

to muscular contraction.

• When do tetanic muscular contractions

end?

• Explain the term stretch reflex and how

PNF stretching can benefit flexibility.
Plenary
Test yourself!

Can you:
- Name the fibre types?
- Describe neural control of muscle
contractions?
- Link the All or None Law to the definition
of a motor unit ?
- State the differences between Spatial and
Wave Summation?
- Explain the stretch reflex and a benefit of
Homework
• Complete the CV knowledge quiz

• Complete a revision aid for the neuromuscular system – this can

include exam questions if this is more effective than a mindmap.