Level 2: CH 8 The Muscular System – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key roots, prefixes, physiological terms, disorders, and major skeletal muscles from the muscular system lecture.

aer/o

Prefix meaning air or gas; seen in “aerobic,” indicating the presence of oxygen.

aerobic organism

An organism that can grow in the presence of air (oxygen).

an-

Prefix meaning not or without.

anaerobic metabolism

Energy-producing pathway that does not require oxygen.

iso-

Prefix meaning same or equal.

isotonic contraction

Muscle contraction in which tone remains the same while the muscle shortens.

isometric contraction

Muscle contraction in which length remains the same while tension increases.

-lysis

Suffix meaning separation or dissolving; e.g., glycolysis, the breakdown of glucose.

metr/o

Root meaning measure.

my/o

Root meaning muscle.

sarc/o

Root meaning flesh or muscle; used in “sarcomere.”

sarcomere

The contracting subunit of skeletal muscle fiber.

ton/o

Root meaning tone or tension.

troph/o

Root meaning nutrition or nurture.

hypertrophy

Increase in muscle size due to resistance training.

vas/o

Root meaning vessel.

vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels, increasing blood flow to muscle tissue.

erg/o

Root meaning work.

syn-

Prefix meaning with or together.

synergist

Muscle that works together with another to produce movement.

synapse

Point of communication between a neuron and another cell.

brachi/o

Root meaning arm.

quadr/i

Root meaning four.

a- (as in atrophy)

Prefix meaning absent or lack of.

atrophy

Wasting or decrease in muscle size due to disuse.

-algia

Suffix meaning pain.

myalgia

Muscular pain.

dys-

Prefix meaning disordered or difficult.

muscular dystrophy

Group of disorders involving progressive deterioration of muscles.

sthen/o

Root meaning strength.

myasthenia gravis

Autoimmune disorder characterized by muscular weakness and fatigue.

sternocleidomastoid

Lateral neck muscle that rotates the head.

trapezius

Upper-back muscle that raises the shoulders.

pectoralis major

Large anterior chest muscle that adducts the arm.

deltoid

Lateral shoulder muscle that abducts the arm.

biceps brachii

Anterior arm muscle that flexes the forearm.

triceps brachii

Posterior arm muscle that extends the forearm.

flexor carpi group

Anterior forearm muscles that flex the hand.

extensor carpi group

Posterior forearm muscles that extend the hand.

diaphragm

Dome-shaped muscle between thorax and abdomen; chief muscle of breathing.

rectus abdominis

Anterior abdominal muscle that flexes the vertebral column.

erector spinae

Muscle group running from sacrum to skull; extends the vertebral column.

gluteus maximus

Large posterior pelvic muscle that extends the thigh.

quadriceps femoris

Anterior thigh muscle group of four muscles that extends the leg at the knee.

hamstrings group

Posterior thigh muscles that flex the leg at the knee.

gastrocnemius

Posterior leg muscle that plantar flexes the foot.

tibialis anterior

Anterior leg muscle that dorsiflexes the foot.