(Class – XI)

Question 1:
Draw the diagram of a sarcomere of skeletal muscle showing different regions.
Answer 1:
The diagrammatic representation of a sarcomere is as follows:

Question 2:
Define sliding filament theory of muscle contraction.
Answer 2:
The sliding filament theory explains the process of muscle contraction during which the
thin filaments slide over the thick filaments, which shortens the myofibril. Each muscle
fibre has an alternate light and dark band, which contains a special contractile protein,
called actin and myosin respectively. Actin is a thin contractile protein present in the light
band and is known as the I-band, whereas myosin is a thick contractile protein present
in the dark band and is known as the A-band. There is an elastic fibre called z line that
bisects each I-band. The thin filament is firmly anchored to the z line. The central part
of the thick filament that is not overlapped by the thin filament is known as the H-zone.
During muscle contraction, the myosin heads or cross bridges come in close contact with
the thin filaments. As a result, the thin filaments are pulled towards the middle of the
sarcomere. The Z line attached to the actin filaments is also pulled leading to the
shortening of the sarcomere. Hence, the length of the band remains constant as its
original length and the I-band shortens and the H-zone disappears.

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Question 3:
Describe the important steps in muscle contraction.
Answer 3:
During skeletal muscle contraction, the thick filament slides over the thin filament by a
repeated binding and releases myosin along the filament. This whole process occurs in a
sequential manner.
Step 1: Muscle contraction is initiated by signals that travel along the axon and reach
the neuromuscular junction or motor end plate. Neuromuscular junction is a junction
between a neuron and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre. As a result, Acetylcholine (a
neurotransmitter) is released into the synaptic cleft by generating an action potential in
sarcolemma.
Step 2: The generation of this action potential releases calcium ions from the
sarcoplasmic reticulum in the sarcoplasm.

Step 3: The increased calcium ions in the sarcoplasm leads to the activation of actin
sites. Calcium ions bind to the troponin on actin filaments and remove the tropomyosin,
wrapped around actin filaments. Hence, active actin sites are exposed and this allows
myosin heads to attach to this site.

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Step 4: In this stage, the myosin head attaches to the exposed site of actin and forms
cross bridges by utilizing energy from ATP hydrolysis. The actin filaments are pulled. As
a result, the H-zone reduces. It is at this stage that the contraction of the muscle occurs.
Step 5: After muscle contraction, the myosin head pulls the actin filament and releases
ADP along with inorganic phosphate. ATP molecules bind and detach myosin and the
cross bridges are broken.
Stage 6: This process of formation and breaking down of cross bridges continues until
there is a drop in the stimulus, which causes an increase in calcium. As a result, the
concentration of calcium ions decreases, thereby masking the actin filaments and leading
to muscle relaxation.

Question 4:
Write true or false. If false change the statement so that it is true.
(a) Actin is present in thin filament
(b) H-zone of striated muscle fibre represents both thick and thin filaments.
(c) Human skeleton has 206 bones.
(d) There are 11 pairs of ribs in man.
(e) Sternum is present on the ventral side of the body.
Answer 4:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) True
(d) False
(e) True

Question 5:
Write the difference between:
(a) Actin and Myosin
(b) Red and White muscles
(c) Pectoral and Pelvic girdle
Answer 5:
(a) Actin and Myosin
Actin Myosin
1 Actin is a thin contractile protein. 1 Myosin is a thick contractile protein.

2. It is present in light bands and is 2 It is present in dark bands and is called

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(b) Red and White muscles
Red muscle fibre White muscle fibre
1 Red muscle fibres are thin and 1 White muscle fibres are thick and
smaller in size. larger in size.
2 They are red in colour as they contain 2 They are white in colour as they
large amounts of myoglobin. contain small amounts of myoglobin
3 They contain numerous 3 They contain less number
mitochondria. of mitochondria.
4 They carry out slow and sustained 4 They carry out fast work for short
contractions for a long period. duration.
5 They provide energy by aerobic 5 They provide energy by anaerobic
respiration. respiration.
(c) Pectoral and Pelvic girdle
Pectoral girdle Pelvic girdle
1 It is a skeletal support from where 1 It is a skeletal support form where the
the forelimbs of vertebrates are hind limbs of vertebrates are
attached. attached.
2 It is composed of two Bones namely, 2 It is composed of three bones, upper
clavicle or collar bones and scapula ileum, inner pubic, and ischium.
or shoulder bone.

Question 6:
Match Column I with Column II:
Column I Column II
(a) Smooth muscle (i) Myoglobin
(b) Tropomyosin (ii) Thin filament
(c) Red muscle (iii) Sutures
(d) Skull (iv) Involuntary

Answer 6:
Column I Column II

(a) Smooth muscle (iv) Involuntary

(b) Tropomyosin (ii) Thin filament

(c) Red muscle (i) Myoglobin

(d) Skull (iii) Sutures

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Question 7:
What are the different types of movements exhibited by the cells of human body?
Answer 7:
Movement is a characteristic feature of living organisms. The different types of
movement exhibited by cells of the human body are:
 Amoeboid movement: Leucocytes present in the blood show amoeboid
movement. During tissue damage, these blood cells move from the circulatory
system towards the injury site to initiate an immune response.
 Ciliary movement: Reproductive cells such as sperms and ova show ciliary
movement. The passage of ova through the fallopian tube towards the uterus is
facilitated by this movement.
 Muscular movement: Muscle cells show muscular movement.

Question 8:
How do you distinguish between a skeletal muscle and a cardiac muscle?
Answer 8:
Skeletal muscle Cardiac muscle
1. The cells of skeletal muscles are 1. The cells of cardiac muscles are
unbranched. branched.
2. Intercalated disks are absent. 2. The cells are joined with one another by
intercalated disks that help in
coordination or synchronization of the
heart beat.
3. Alternate light and dark bands are 3. Faint bands are present.
present.
4. They are voluntary muscles. 4. They are involuntary muscles.
5. They contract rapidly and get 5. They contract rapidly but do not get
fatigued in a short span of time. fatigued easily.
6. They are present in body parts such 6. These muscles are present in the heart
as the legs, tongue, hands, etc. and control the contraction and
relaxation of the heart.

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Question 9:
Name the type of joint between the following:
(a) atlas/axis
(b) carpal/metacarpal of thumb
(c) between phalanges
(d) femur/acetabulum
(e) between cranial bones
(f) between pubic bones in the pelvic girdle
Answer 9:
(a) atlas/axis: Pivotal joint
(b) carpal/metacarpal of thumb: Saddle joint
(c) between phalanges: Hinge joint
(d) femur/acetabulum: Ball and socket joint
(e) between cranial bones: Fibrous joint
(f) between pubic bones in the pelvic girdle: Ball and socket joint

Question 10:
Fill in the blank spaces:
(a) All mammals (except a few) have __________ cervical vertebra.
(b) The number of phalanges in each limb of human is __________
(c) Thin filament of myofibril contains 2 ‘F’ actins and two other proteins namely
__________ and __________.
(d) In a muscle fibre Ca++ is stored in __________

(e) __________ and __________ pairs of ribs are called floating ribs.
(f) The human cranium is made of __________ bones.
Answer 10:
(a) All mammals (except a few) have Seven cervical vertebra.
(b) The number of phalanges in each limb of a human is 14.
(c) Thin filament of myofibril contains 2 ‘F’ actins and two other proteins, namely
troponin and tropomyosin.
(d) In a muscle fibre, Ca++ is stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
(e) 11th and 12th pairs of ribs are called floating ribs.
(f) The human cranium is made up of eight bones.