Review of the Muscular System

A comprehensive set of flashcards on the muscular system covering anatomy, functions, types of muscles, and related physiological concepts.

Muscle Functions

Muscles are responsible for movement, stability, control of openings, and heat production.

Glycemic Control

Skeletal muscles absorb and use a large share of body glucose to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Myology

The study of the muscular system.

Skeletal Muscle

A type of muscle tissue responsible for voluntary movements and making up roughly 600 muscles in the human body.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle found only in the heart that pumps blood.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle found in walls of hollow organs, responsible for movements such as peristalsis.

Epimysium

A fibrous sheath surrounding an entire muscle.

Perimysium

A connective tissue that wraps around fascicles, which are bundles of muscle fibers.

Endomysium

Thin connective tissue surrounding each muscle fiber.

Fascicles

Bundles of muscle fibers wrapped together.

Fascia

Connective tissue sheet between muscles or muscle groups.

Muscle Attachment

Muscles may attach directly to bones or through tendons.

Aponeurosis

A broad, flat tendon that connects muscles to the parts they move.

Retinaculum

A connective tissue band that holds tendons in place.

Intrinsic Muscles

Muscles that are contained entirely within a given region.

Extrinsic Muscles

Muscles that act on a region but arise from another region.

Prime Mover

The main muscle responsible for a particular movement.

Synergist

A muscle that assists the prime mover in producing a movement.

Antagonist

A muscle that opposes the action of the prime mover.

Fixator

A muscle that stabilizes a joint to allow other movements.

Innervation

The supply of nerves to a muscle.

Hypertrophy

An increase in muscle size due to exercise and resistance training.

Atrophy

A decrease in muscle size due to disuse or aging.

Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types

Fast-twitch fibers support rapid movements, while slow-twitch fibers support endurance activities.

Diaphragm

A muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities and aids in breathing.

Intercostal Muscles

Muscles located between the ribs that assist with breathing.

Quadriceps Femoris

A group of muscles including rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius that extends the knee.

Hamstring Muscles

A group of muscles including biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus that flex the knee.

Rotator Cuff Muscles

A group of four muscles including supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis that stabilize the shoulder joint.

Pectoralis Major

A large chest muscle involved in arm flexion, adduction, and medial rotation.

Latissimus Dorsi

A large muscle in the back that extends and retracts the arm.

Gluteus Maximus

The largest muscle in the buttocks, responsible for hip extension.

Tibialis Anterior

A muscle in the shin that dorsiflexes and inverts the foot.

Gastrocnemius

The major calf muscle that plantar flexes the foot and flexes the knee.

Soleus

A calf muscle that primarily aids in plantar flexion of the foot.

Muscle Contraction

The process by which muscle fibers shorten and generate force.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A condition caused by compression of the median nerve due to inflammation in the carpal tunnel.

Flexor Retinaculum

The fibrous band that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel.

Abductors

Muscles that move a limb away from the midline of the body.

Adductors

Muscles that move a limb toward the midline of the body.

Muscle Hypertrophy Factors

Resistance training, nutrition, and hormonal balance influence muscle growth.

Circulation & Muscles

Active muscles receive an increase in blood supply during exercise.

Facial Expression Muscles

Muscles that enable facial movements are mainly innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII).

Hyoid Muscles

Muscles including digastric, mylohyoid, and stylohyoid involved in chewing and swallowing.

Flexible Muscle Actions

Muscle actions can include isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions.

Pennate Muscles

Muscles with feather-like arrangements of fascicles.

Fusiform Muscles

Muscles that are thicker in the middle and taper at both ends.

Parallel Muscles

Muscles with fascicles arranged parallel to the long axis.

Circular Muscles

Muscles that surround openings or passages.

Muscle Names

Names typically describe location, appearance, action, or attachments.

Skeletal System Interaction

Muscles move bones by pulling on tendons attached to the skeleton.

Cardiac Muscle Function

Involuntary contraction to pump blood throughout the body.

Smooth Muscle Function

Involuntary contraction to manage movements of internal organs.

Dorsal Interosseous Muscles

Intrinsic muscles that help with finger abduction.

Plantar Interosseous Muscles

Intrinsic muscles that help with toe adduction.

Hip Flexors

Muscles like iliopsoas that flex the hip joint.

Adductors of the Thigh

Muscles responsible for bringing the thigh towards the midline.

Injury Prevention

Strength and flexibility training can reduce the risk of muscle injuries.

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic

Intrinsic muscles are localized, while extrinsic act on another region.

Muscle Stabilization

Fixators are key for stabilizing body parts during movement.

Biomechanics

The study of the mechanical aspects of living organisms, crucial for understanding muscle function.

Muscular System

A system encompassing all muscles and their functions.

Accessory Structures

Nerves and blood vessels providing support to muscular actions.

Muscle Fatigue

A temporary reduction in muscle's ability to generate force.

Stretch Reflex

A reflex action that causes a muscle to contract in response to being stretched.

Eccentric Contraction

Involves muscle elongation under tension, often associated with muscle soreness.

Concentric Contraction

When a muscle shortens while generating force.

Antagonistic Action

Opposing muscle actions that create balance and control.

Neuromuscular Junction

The synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber.

Strength Training

Exercises that improve force production capacity of muscles.

Muscle Regeneration

The ability of muscle fibers to repair and regenerate after injury.

Sarcopenia

The age-related loss of muscle mass.

Isotonic Exercise

Exercises that involve changes in muscle length and movement.

Proprioception

The sense of body position and movement, important for muscle coordination.

Myo-fibers

Muscle fibers that contract in response to stimulus.

Muscle Tone

The continuous and passive partial contraction of muscles.

Tendons

Connective tissues that attach muscles to bones.

Glycogen Stores

Energy stores in muscles, crucial for prolonged activity.

Core Muscles

Muscles in the pelvis and abdomen that stabilize the body's center.

Respiratory Muscles

Muscles like the diaphragm that facilitate breathing.

Intrinsic Hand Muscles

Muscles located in the hand that allow fine motor control.

Extrinsic Hand Muscles

Muscles located in the forearm that support hand movements.

Hip Hinge Mechanism

The action necessary for movements like sitting and bending.

Plantar Flexion

Ankle movement that increases the angle between foot and leg.

Dorsiflexion

Ankle movement that decreases the angle between foot and leg.

Ligaments

Tissues that connect bones to other bones at joints.

Joint Stability

Provided by muscles, tendons, and ligaments working together.

Skeletal Muscle Activation

Triggered by signals from the nervous system.

Resting Muscle Tone

Muscle state at rest aiding posture and readiness.

Injury Recovery

Rehabilitation exercises to restore muscle function.

Force Production

The ability of muscles to produce tension and movement.