1. Differentiate muscle origin from muscle insertion.

Most skeletal muscle is attached to bone on its ends by way of what we call tendons. As the
muscles contract, they exert force on the bones, which help to support and move our body along with
its appendages.
In most cases, one end of the muscle is fixed in its position, while the other end moves during
contraction.
The muscle origin is the attachment site that doesn't move during contraction, while the
muscle insertion is the attachment site that does move when the muscle contracts.
2. Intramuscular Route of Drug Administration
An intramuscular injection deposit medication into the muscle fascia, which has rich blood supply
thus allowing medication to be absorbed faster through muscle fibers.

a. What are the advantages of using the intramuscular route of drug administration?

The method is simple and very accessible. When injections cannot be administered by doctors or no
one trained is around, it is difficult to administer intravenous or even the subcutaneous injections.
Intramuscular injections are much easier to administer. Most people can easily access their thigh
muscles. One can even access the deltoid or the gluteus muscle. Another advantage is that it can be
performed without the use of medical devices to make administering intramuscular injections.
Further, intramuscular injections are necessary to administer some vaccines and many drugs
including immunoglobulins. This cannot administer these as subcutaneous or intravenous injections.
Intramuscular injections can supply a larger volume of the drug or fluid. The intake is much more
since muscles have a larger capacity than the veins.
b. Give examples of drugs given using this route
Intramuscular injections are often used for the administration of vaccines, or flu shot and in some
cases drugs that are used to treat sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Other examples of drugs that are
dministered intramuscularly are: Haloperidol (Haldol), Aripiprazole (Abilify), Paliperidone (Invega),
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Lorazepam (Ativan), Fulvestrant (Faslodex), Codeine, Morphine,
Methotrexate, Metoclopramide, Olanzapine, Streptomycin, Diazepam, Prednisone, Penicillin,
Dimercaprol, Ketamine, Leuprorelin, Naloxone, Quinine, in its gluconate form, Vitamin B12, as
cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin, Risperidone
c. Identify the common intramuscular injection sites.

the administration sites for an intramuscular injection includes the Deltoid muscle of the arm. The
deltoid muscle is the site most typically used for vaccines. However, this site is not common for self-
injection, because its small muscle mass limits the volume of medication that can be injected —
typically no more than 1 milliliter. Another site is the Vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh. The thigh
may be used when the other sites aren’t available or if you need to administer the medication on your
own. The ventrogluteal muscle is the safest site for adults and children older than 7 months. It’s deep
and not close to any major blood vessels and nerves. This site is difficult for self-injection, and may
require the help of a friend, family member, or caregiver. The Dorsogluteal muscles of the buttocks is
another site of administration of this route. The dorsogluteal muscle of the buttocks was the site most
commonly selected by healthcare providers for many years. However, due to the potential for injury
to the sciatic nerve, the ventrogluteal is most often used now. This site is difficult to use this site for
self-injection and not recommended.
3. Describe the effects of anabolic steroids on the muscle
The effects of anabolic steroids on physical performance are unclear. Well controlled, double blind
studies have rendered conflicting results. In studies showing beneficial effects, body weight increased
by an average of about four pounds, lean body weight by about six pounds (fat loss accounts for the
discrepancy between gains in lean mass and body weight), bench press increased by about 15 pounds,
and squats by about 30 pounds (these values represent the average gains for all studies showing a
beneficial effect). Almost all studies have failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect on maximal oxygen
consumption or endurance capacity. Anabolic steroid studies have typically lasted six to eight weeks
and have usually used relatively untrained subjects.
Most changes in strength during the early part of training are neural: increased strength is mainly due
to an improved ability to recruit motor units. Anabolic steroids affect processes associated with
protein synthesis in muscle. Studies lasting six weeks (typical study length) would largely reflect neural
changes and could easily miss the cellular effects of the drugs
4. Explain the following in terms of ions and charges:
a. Polarization
In general terms, polarization means to separate into opposites. In the context of electricity,
polarization is the process of separating opposite charges within an object. The positive charge
becomes separated from the negative charge. By inducing the movement of electrons within an
object, one side of the object is left with an excess of positive charge and the other side of the
object is left with an excess of negative charge. Charge becomes separated into opposites. The
polarization process always involves the use of a charged object to induce electron movement
or electron rearrangement. In a conducting object, electrons are induced into movement across
the surface of the conductor from one side of the object to the opposite side. In an insulator,
electrons merely redistribute themselves within the atom or molecules nearest the outer
surface of the object.

b. Depolarization
This starts with the opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels in the neuron membrane. Because
the concentration of Na+ is higher outside the cell than inside the cell by a factor of 10, ions will
rush into the cell, driven by both the chemical and electrical gradients. Because sodium is a
positively charged ion, as it enters the cell it will change the relative voltage immediately inside
the cell membrane. The resting membrane potential is approximately -70 mV, so the sodium
cation entering the cell will cause the membrane to become less negative. This means that the
membrane potential moves toward zero (becomes less polarized).

c. Repolarization
As the membrane potential reaches +30 mV, slower to open voltage-gated potassium channels
are now opening in the membrane. An electrochemical gradient acts on K+, as well. As K+ starts
to leave the cell, taking a positive charge with it, the membrane potential begins to move back
toward its resting voltage. This means that the membrane voltage moves back toward the -70
mV value of the resting membrane potential. Repolarization returns the membrane potential to
the -70 mV value of the resting potential, but overshoots that value. Potassium ions reach
equilibrium when the membrane voltage is below -70 mV, so a period of hyperpolarization
occurs while the K+ channels are open. Those K+ channels are slightly delayed in closing,
accounting for this short overshoot.
5. Define the following:
1. A muscle spasm, or muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. Muscle spasm
occur suddenly, usually resolve quickly and are often painful.
2. 2. Spastic paralysis is a paralysis with tonic spasm of the affected muscles and with
increased tendon reflexes.
3. 3. Tetanus is an often fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium clostridium
tetani, which usually enters the body through a puncture, a cut, or an open wound. Tetanus
leads to profound painful spasms of muscles, including 'locking' of the jaw so that the mouth
cannot open, and death.
4. 4. Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive
muscle degeneration and weakness. It is caused by an absence of dystophin, a protein that
helps keep muscle cells intact.
5. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease marked by muscular
weakness without atrophy, and caused by a defect in the action of acetylcholine at
neuromuscular junctions.
REFERENCES:
Tortora, G. & Derrickson, B. (2017). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (15th ed). John Wiley
Ayres, C. (2017). 5 advantages and disadvantages of intramuscular injections. Retrieved from:
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Intramuscular injections. (N.D.) intramuscular injections. Retrieved from:

Weatherspoon, D. (2017). What are intramuscular injections? Retrieved from:

Polarization. (n.d.). In the Physics Clasroom. Retrieved from

Muscular Dystrophy Association(n.d.). Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Retrieved from