Muscle Contraction!

A series of vocabulary flashcards to help review key concepts about muscle contraction and types of muscle fibers.

Cardiac Cells

One of the three types of muscle cells, primarily found in the heart.

Smooth Cells

Involuntary muscle cells found in the walls of internal organs.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated muscle tissue that is under voluntary control and responsible for movements.

Tendons

Connective tissues that attach muscles to bones.

Origin Point

The stable connection of a muscle that acts as an anchor during contraction.

Insertion Point

The end of a muscle that connects to the bone that moves.

Opposition

The relationship where one muscle extends and the other flexes.

Innervated

Supplied with nerves that signal muscles to contract.

Motor Neuron Axon

A nerve fiber that connects the nervous system to muscle fibers.

Neuromuscular Junction

The junction where a motor neuron meets a muscle fiber.

Muscle Fibers

Cells that make up skeletal muscles, also known as muscle cells.

Myofibrils

Long, cylindrical organelles within muscle fibers that play a key role in contraction.

Sarcomeres

The repeating units within myofibrils where muscle contraction occurs.

Actin

Thin filaments in the sarcomeres of muscle fibers.

Myosin

Thick filaments in the sarcomeres of muscle fibers.

Striated

Referring to the striped appearance of skeletal muscle due to repeating sarcomeres.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The energy currency used in muscle contractions.

Detachment

The first step in muscle contraction where myosin breaks its link with actin.

Reattach

The process where myosin re-establishes its connection to actin after reaching.

Pull Back

The final step in sarcomere contraction when myosin returns to its original shape.

Muscle Twitch

The duration between contraction and relaxation of a muscle.

Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers

Muscle fibers that contract quickly but have less endurance.

Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers

Muscle fibers that are more enduring and rely on aerobic respiration.

Aerobic

A type of respiration that uses oxygen for energy production.

Anaerobic

A type of respiration that does not use oxygen, relying on stored glycogen.

Contraction Duration

The length of time a muscle is contracted.

Muscle Rate

The frequency or pace of muscle contractions.

Nervous System Signals

The prompts from the nervous system that trigger muscle shortening.

Capillary Beds

Networks of blood vessels that supply oxygen to muscle fibers.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process wherein cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy.

Endurance

The ability of muscle fibers to sustain activity over prolonged periods.

Muscle Contraction Process

The series of steps involving actin, myosin, and ATP during muscle shortening.