PE

What is skeletal muscle?

Voluntary, striated muscle attached to bones that enables body movement.

What is cardiac muscle?

Involuntary, striated muscle found only in the heart, responsible for pumping blood.

What is smooth muscle?

Involuntary, non-striated muscle located in internal organs and blood vessels.

What is a tendon?

Strong connective tissue that links muscle to bone and transmits force for movement.

What is a slow twitch muscle fibre (Type I)?

Red, fatigue-resistant fibre that contracts slowly; ideal for endurance activities.

What is a fast twitch B muscle fibre (Type IIb)?

White fibre that contracts quickly with high force but fatigues rapidly; suited to power and speed.

What is a concentric contraction?

Muscle shortens while producing force; commonly seen during lifting.

What is an eccentric contraction?

Muscle lengthens under tension to control movement; often occurs when lowering a weight.

What is an isometric contraction?

Muscle develops tension without changing length; occurs during holds or static positions.

What is the sliding filament theory?

Actin and myosin filaments slide past one another within the sarcomere, shortening the muscle fibre during contraction.

What is the all-or-nothing principle?

If the threshold is reached, all fibres in a motor unit contract fully; if not, none contract.

What is a motor unit?

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

What is a cartilaginous joint?

A slightly movable joint where bones are joined by cartilage, such as the ribs to the sternum.

What is the skeletal function of support?

The skeleton holds the body upright and maintains posture.

What is the skeletal function of protection?

The skeleton shields vital organs, such as the skull protecting the brain.

What is the skeletal function of movement?

Bones act as levers that muscles pull on to produce motion.

What is the skeletal function of mineral storage?

Bones store minerals like calcium and phosphorus essential to body function.

What is red blood cell production?

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, especially within flat bones.

What is compact bone?

Dense, hard outer bone layer that provides strength and structure.

What is cancellous bone?

Spongy, porous bone found at the ends of long bones that absorbs shock.

What is bone marrow?

Soft tissue in the cavities of bones where red blood cells are formed.

What is the axial skeleton?

Central framework of the body consisting of the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum.

What is the appendicular skeleton?

Includes the limbs and girdles (shoulder and pelvic) that allow movement.

What is a fibrous joint?

Immovable joint where bones are held tightly by fibrous tissue; found in the skull.

What is a synovial joint?

Freely movable joint where bones are separated by a fluid-filled cavity.

What is a gliding joint?

Joint with flat surfaces that slide over one another, such as in the wrist.

What is a hinge joint?

Joint that moves in one plane (flexion/extension), like the elbow or knee.

What is a ball and socket joint?

Joint allowing movement in all directions, such as the shoulder or hip.

What is a condyloid joint?

Joint that allows movement in two planes without rotation, such as the wrist.

What is a saddle joint?

Bi-axial joint shaped like a saddle, found at the base of the thumb.

What is a pivot joint?

Joint that allows rotation around a single axis, found in the neck.

What is cartilage?

Smooth, flexible tissue covering bone ends to cushion and reduce friction.

What is a ligament?

Strong, fibrous band that connects bone to bone and stabilises joints.

What is a joint capsule?

Tough outer membrane surrounding a synovial joint that provides support.

What is the synovial membrane?

Inner lining of the joint capsule that secretes synovial fluid.

What is synovial fluid?

Lubricating fluid within synovial joints that reduces friction and nourishes cartilage.

What is flexion?

Movement that decreases the angle between bones at a joint, such as bending the elbow.

What is extension?

Movement that increases the angle between bones at a joint, such as straightening the knee.

What is abduction?

Movement of a limb away from the body’s midline.

What is adduction?

Movement of a limb towards the body’s midline.

What is rotation?

Movement of a bone around its own axis.

What is circumduction?

Circular movement of a limb that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

What is supination?

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces upward.

What is pronation?

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces downward.

What is dorsiflexion?

Lifting the top of the foot towards the shin.

What is plantarflexion?

Pointing the toes downward, away from the leg.

What is a fascicle?

A bundle of muscle fibres within a muscle.

What is the origin of a muscle?

Stable, proximal attachment point of a muscle.

What is the insertion of a muscle?

Mobile, distal attachment point of a muscle where force is applied.

What is a fusiform muscle?

Muscle with fibres that run parallel to the tendon, allowing fast, long contractions.

What is a pennate muscle?

Muscle with fibres angled to the tendon, designed for high force output.

What is a Type IIa muscle fibre?

Fast-twitch, red muscle fibre that provides a balance of power and endurance.

What is an agonist?

Primary muscle responsible for initiating a specific movement.

What is an antagonist?

Muscle that relaxes to allow the agonist to perform a movement.

What is a stabiliser?

Muscle that contracts to hold a joint steady during movement.

What is a motor neuron?

Nerve cell that transmits signals from the brain to muscle fibres.

What is the size principle?

Smaller motor units activate before larger ones, allowing gradual increase in force.

How many bones are in the human body?

206 bones in the adult human skeleton.

What is the cervical spine?

Seven vertebrae forming the neck region.

What is the thoracic spine?

Twelve vertebrae in the upper back, each connected to a rib.

What is the lumbar spine?

Five large vertebrae in the lower back, supporting most of the body’s weight.

What is the sacrum?

Five fused vertebrae forming the back of the pelvis.

What is the coccyx?

Four fused bones at the bottom of the spine, also known as the tailbone.