Reference no: EM133346855

1. Which of the three muscle types would you expect to be affected?
2. Explain the five properties of skeletal muscle tissue/cells.
3. Describe the structural components of the myofibril, including the proteins associated with the thick and thin myofilaments.
4. Which of the following statements accurately describes how the sarcomeres would look in the head and neck muscles?
   1. The A band would decrease in length as the sarcomere decreased in length.
   2. The I band would increase in length as the sarcomere increased in length.
   3. The A band and zone of overlap would increase in length as the sarcomere increased in length.
   4. The I band would decrease in length as the sarcomere decreased in length.

Upon admission to the hospital, a physician diagnosed William with tetanus caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, and was prescribed an antibacterial and a muscle-relaxant to suppress the muscle spasms. C. tetani produces toxins within the body that invade the central nervous system resulting in the motor neurons continually firing, and therefore, the muscle remains contracted. The muscles that are commonly affected are within the head, neck, back, and upper extremity. 

1. Thinking about the process contraction, specifically excitation-contraction coupling and relaxation, how does stimulation of a motor neuron lead to contraction of a muscle cell? 
2. Which of the following components of the neuromuscular junction would be directly affected by the toxin produced by bacterium Clostridium tetani?
   1. The axon terminals
   2. The motor end plate
   3. The sarcoplasmic reticulum
   4. The synaptic cleft

In addition to sustained muscle contraction, the toxin can also directly destroy muscle fibers. When muscle fibers degenerate, myoglobin is released into the bloodstream which can significantly affect the function of the kidneys. To ensure the functionality of the kidneys, William's physician runs a blood test to determine if myoglobin is present. Blood tests result confirm the presence of myoglobin.

1. Myoglobin is similar to hemoglobin, in which it is a protein that binds to oxygen, however found within muscle fibers. What is the amount of myoglobin found relative to each of the three different types of muscle fibers, and describe how this amount contributes to activities that rely on these muscle fibers?
2. Based upon myoglobin being released into the bloodstream for excretion, how would William's ATP levels be affected and how would this eventually affect muscle contraction?
3. Despite being upon muscle relaxers, William is still experiencing muscle spasms within this neck and jaw. What type of tetanus do you think is occurring, and why?