Muscle Anatomy and Physiology

A comprehensive set of flashcards focusing on vocabulary related to muscle anatomy and physiology, covering definitions, examples, and fundamental concepts.

Muscle

A band/bundle of fibrous tissue in a human/animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement or maintaining position.

Fascicle

A bundle of structures, such as nerve or muscle fibers.

Muscle Fiber

Elongated, cylindrical cells that make up skeletal muscles responsible for generating force and movement in the body.

Myofibril

Cylindrical structures that make up muscle fibers; contain the contractile proteins actin and myosin.

Sarcomere

Functional unit of muscle; responsible for muscle contraction.

Tendon

A tough, fibrous cord-like tissue that connects muscles to bones.

Musculotendinous Junction

Anatomical interface where muscle tissue connects with tendon tissue, forming a crucial unit for force transmission and movement.

Agonist

Primary muscle responsible for producing a specific movement.

Antagonist

A muscle that opposes the action of another muscle (agonist).

Co Contraction

Simultaneous contraction of both the agonist and antagonist muscles that cross a particular joint.

Synergist

A muscle that assists the prime mover (agonist) in performing a specific movement.

Active Insufficiency

The inability of a multi-joint muscle to develop effective tension and complete its full range of motion.

Passive Insufficiency

The inability of a multi-joint muscle to lengthen sufficiently to allow a full range of motion simultaneously at all the joints it crosses.

Open Kinetic Chain

A series of linked body segments/joints where the end segment (hand/foot) moves freely in space without being fixed or constrained.

Closed Kinetic Chain

A movement where the distal (end) segment of an extremity is fixed against a stationary surface.

Isometric

A type of muscle contraction where the muscle length remains constant while it generates force.

Concentric

A type of muscle contraction where the muscle shortens while generating force.

Eccentric

A type of muscle contraction where the muscle lengthens while exerting force.

Muscle Tissue Properties

Characteristics of muscle tissue, including extensibility, elasticity, irritability, and contractility.

Extensibility

A property of muscle tissue that allows it to be stretched or elongated.

Elasticity

The property of a tissue to return to its original size and shape after being stretched or compressed by a force.

Isokinetic

Muscle contractions that occur at a constant speed.