Biological Foundations of Kinesiology

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and vocabulary from the lecture on the biological foundations of kinesiology, focusing on the musculoskeletal system, muscle function, and bone physiology.

Skeletal System

The organ system that includes all the bones and joints of the body, providing structure and support.

Types of Bone

The different classifications of bone tissue based on structure and function.

Weight Bearing/Support

The ability of bones to support the body's weight and maintain stability.

Physiological Functions of Bone

The roles bones play in the body's processes including storage, production of blood cells, and immune function.

Components of Bone

The makeup of bone, including organic and inorganic materials such as collagen and minerals.

Bone Architecture

The structural organization of bones that determines their strength and function.

Synovial Joints

Type of joint characterized by a fluid-filled joint cavity allowing for great mobility.

Collagen

A protein that provides strength and flexibility to connective tissues, including bone.

Tendons

Connective tissues that attach muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Connective tissues that bind bones to other bones at joints.

Muscle Contraction

The process where muscle fibers shorten and generate force, typically triggered by neural stimulation.

Motor Units

A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates, responsible for muscle contraction.

Electromyograph (EMG)

A device used to assess muscle activity by measuring electrical signals.

Types of Muscle Contraction

Different ways muscles can contract, including concentric, eccentric, and isometric.

Skeletal System

The organ system that includes all the bones and joints of the body, providing structure and support.

Types of Bone

The different classifications of bone tissue based on structure and function.

Weight Bearing/Support

The ability of bones to support the body's weight and maintain stability.

Physiological Functions of Bone

The roles bones play in the body's processes including storage, production of blood cells, and immune function.

Components of Bone

The makeup of bone, including organic and inorganic materials such as collagen and minerals.

Bone Architecture

The structural organization of bones that determines their strength and function.

Synovial Joints

Type of joint characterized by a fluid-filled joint cavity allowing for great mobility.

Collagen

A protein that provides strength and flexibility to connective tissues, including bone.

Tendons

Connective tissues that attach muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Connective tissues that bind bones to other bones at joints.

Muscle Contraction

The process where muscle fibers shorten and generate force, typically triggered by neural stimulation.

Motor Units

A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it innervates, responsible for muscle contraction.

Electromyograph (EMG)

A device used to assess muscle activity by measuring electrical signals.

Types of Muscle Contraction

Different ways muscles can contract, including concentric, eccentric, and isometric.

Epimysium

The outermost layer of dense connective tissue that surrounds the entire skeletal muscle.

Perimysium

The fibrous connective tissue that groups individual muscle fibers into bundles called fascicles.

Endomysium

The delicate layer of connective tissue that encases each individual muscle fiber cell.

Fascicle

A discrete bundle of muscle fibers wrapped in perimysium.

Muscle Fiber

A single, elongated muscle cell that contains multiple nuclei and myofibrils.

Myofibril

Rod-like contractile elements within a muscle fiber composed of actin and myosin filaments.

Sarcomere

The functional unit of muscle contraction, defined as the region between two Z-lines.

Sliding Filament Theory

The model describing how actin and myosin filaments slide past each other to shorten the sarcomere without changing length themselves.

Neuromuscular Junction

The synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber where chemical signals are transmitted.

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

A specialized organelle that stores and releases calcium ions (Ca^{2+}) to trigger muscle contraction.

Troponin and Tropomyosin

Regulatory proteins on the actin filament that control the access of myosin heads to binding sites.

Cross-Bridge Cycle

The sequence of events where a myosin head binds to actin, pulls the filament, and then detaches using ATP.

Power Stroke

The step in contraction where the myosin head releases ADP and phosphate, pivoting to pull the actin filament toward the M-line.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

The neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to initiate an action potential in the muscle fiber.