Unit 8: Muscular System

Gowers Maneuver

A method of rising from a sitting position by using hands and legs to push oneself up.

Muscular System Functions

Movement of the body, maintaining posture, generating body heat, and involvement in other body systems.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated and voluntary muscle type that is connected to the skeleton.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle found in organs such as the digestive tract.

Cardiac Muscle

The involuntary muscle found in the heart.

Fascicles

Bundles of muscle fibers within a muscle.

Epimysium

Outermost layer of connective tissue surrounding an entire muscle.

Perimysium

Connective tissue that surrounds and separates fascicles.

Endomysium

Connective tissue that surrounds each individual muscle fiber.

Myocytes

Muscle cells that make up muscle tissue.

Sarcomere

The structural unit of a muscle composed of myofilaments.

Dystrophin

A protein essential for maintaining muscle fiber structure.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

A genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction.

Neuromuscular Junction

The site where a motor neuron connects with a muscle fiber.

Sliding Filament Theory

The model explaining how muscle contraction occurs through the sliding of actin and myosin filaments.

Creatine Kinase (CK)

An enzyme that, when elevated, indicates muscle damage.

Muscle Fatigue

A decline in the ability of a muscle to generate force and contract following prolonged activity.

Oxygen Debt

The temporary lack of oxygen causing lactic acid buildup during strenuous exercise.

Hypertrophy

An increase in muscle size as a result of strength training or increased workload.

Atrophy

A decrease in muscle size and strength due to disuse or disease.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disease characterized by weakness in skeletal muscles.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons leading to muscle atrophy.

Tetanus

A bacterial infection that causes muscle stiffness and spasms.

Botulinum Toxin

A neurotoxin that can block neurotransmitter release, causing muscle paralysis.

Creatine Phosphate

A compound that helps regenerate ATP during high-intensity exercise.

Rigor Mortis

The stiffening of muscles that occurs after death due to chemical changes.

Exon Skipping

A gene therapy approach to treat certain genetic disorders by omitting defective segments of a gene.

Muscle Cramp

A sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more muscles.

Synaptic Cleft

The gap between a neuron and a muscle fiber where neurotransmitters are released.

Acetylcholinesterase

An enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.

Motor End Plate

The area on the muscle fiber membrane where neurotransmitters are received.

Myofibrils

Long protein cords within muscle fibers that contribute to muscle contraction.

Myofilaments

The contractile filaments within myofibrils, mainly actin (thin) and myosin (thick).

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

A specialized endoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells that stores calcium ions.

Lactic Acid

A byproduct of anaerobic respiration often associated with muscle fatigue.

Biomarkers

Biological indicators that can signify muscle damage or disease.

Dystrophy

A term for disorders characterized by the degeneration of muscles.

Progressive Disease

A condition that gets worse over time, such as muscular dystrophy.

Genetic Testing

A medical test that analyzes DNA to identify genetic disorders.

Muscle Biopsy

A procedure to remove a small sample of muscle tissue for examination.

Nerve Signal Transmission

The process by which nerve impulses are communicated to muscle fibers.

Connective Tissue

A tissue that supports, binds together, and protects other tissues and organs.

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell, responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration.

Pacing Therapy

Therapies used to manage muscular dystrophy progression and to maintain muscle function.