Muscular System: Key Terms, Symptoms, and Conditions for Anatomy

fascia

A sheet of connective tissue covering or binding together body structures (such as muscles)

ligament/o

Ligaments bind bone to bone and create stability of joints

ligament

A fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones

muscle

A bundle of long slender cells (muscle fibers) that have the power to contract and hence to produce movement.

tendon

Tendons connect muscles to bones. Made of fibrous tissue and collagen, tendons are tough but not very stretchy.

agonist

A muscle whose contraction moves a part of the body directly.

antagonist

An antagonist muscle is a muscle that produces the opposite action of an agonist. The antagonist provides stability.

cardiac muscle

These muscles line the heart walls. They help your heart pump blood that travels through your cardiovascular system.

skeletal muscle

Also known as striated muscles. Skeletal muscles are responsible for voluntary muscle movement.

smooth muscle

Also known as visceral muscles. Smooth muscle is mainly associated with the walls of internal organs.

atrophy

Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.

contracture

A condition in which a muscle or group of muscles remains in a state of permanent contraction.

hypertrophy

Excessive growth. Hypertrophy is the enlargement of muscles.

strain

An overstretching or overexertion of a muscle or tendon.

myalgia

Muscle pain that affects several muscle groups.

polymyalgia

Muscle pain affecting multiple muscle groups.

myopathy

Diseases that attack muscle fibers, making your muscles weak.

myositis

Inflammation or infection of a muscle.

polymyositis

Inflammation or infection of multiple muscle groups.