Anatomy & Physiology: Muscle Tissue

A collection of flashcards covering important terms and concepts related to muscle tissue anatomy and physiology.

Skeletal muscle tissue

A type of muscle tissue that moves the body and is under voluntary control.

Cardiac muscle tissue

A type of muscle tissue found only in the heart, responsible for pumping blood.

Smooth muscle tissue

Involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow organs and blood vessels.

Excitability

The ability of muscle tissue to respond to a stimulus by changing its electrical membrane potential.

Contractility

The ability of muscle fibers to contract and generate force.

Extensibility

The ability of muscles to be stretched without being damaged.

Elasticity

The ability of muscle tissue to return to its original shape after being stretched or contracted.

Motor unit

A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates.

Neuromuscular junction

The synapse between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, released at the neuromuscular junction.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

An internal membrane complex in muscle fibers that stores calcium ions.

Crossbridge cycling

The process of myosin heads binding to actin filaments to produce muscle contraction.

Calcium ions (Ca2+)

Ions that play a crucial role in muscle contraction by binding to troponin.

Tendons

Connective tissue structures that attach muscles to bones.

Isometric contraction

A type of muscle contraction where tension is generated without a change in muscle length.

Isotonic contraction

A type of muscle contraction where tension remains constant while the muscle changes length.

Muscle fatigue

The decreased ability of a muscle to produce force.

Hypertrophy

An increase in muscle size due to exercise.

Atrophy

A decrease in muscle size and strength due to lack of use or exercise.

Oxygen debt

The extra oxygen required after exercise to restore the body to its pre-exercise condition.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular transmission and leading to muscle weakness.

Muscular dystrophy

A group of genetic disorders that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of muscle fibers.