Muscle Physiology and Nervous System Overview

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards to aid in understanding key terms and concepts related to muscle physiology and the nervous system.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; integrative and control centers.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Communication lines between the CNS and the rest of the body, including cranial and spinal nerves.

Sensory (afferent) division

Part of the PNS that conducts impulses from receptors to the CNS.

Motor (efferent) division

Part of the PNS that conducts impulses from the CNS to effectors like muscles.

Graded muscle response

The ability of a muscle to produce varying amounts of force based on different demands.

Isotonic contractions

Muscle changes in length and moves a load; includes concentric and eccentric contractions.

Isometric contractions

Muscle length doesn't change; occurs when the load is greater than the maximum tension the muscle can generate.

Rigor mortis

The stiffening of muscles occurring 3-4 hours after death due to lack of ATP production.

Muscle fiber recruitment

Increasing contraction strength by sending stimulus to more muscle fibers.

Threshold stimulus

The stimulus that is just strong enough to cause a minor contraction.

Maximal stimulus

The strongest stimulus that recruits all motor units for maximum contractile force.

Force of muscle contractions

Determined by factors like frequency of stimulation and number of muscle fibers recruited.

Muscle fatigue

State that results from prolonged muscle contractions, often due to lack of ATP.

Concentric contractions

Type of isotonic contraction where the muscle shortens and does work.

Eccentric contractions

Type of isotonic contraction where the muscle lengthens while generating force.

Voltage-sensitive tubule protein

A protein involved in the process of muscle contraction related to the T tubule.

Cross bridge

The attachment between myosin heads and actin filaments during muscle contraction.

Somatic nervous system

Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Anaerobic pathway

Energy production pathway that includes glycolysis and lactic acid formation.

Aerobic pathway

Energy production pathway that involves aerobic respiration using various substrates.

Direct phosphorylation of ADP

Quick regeneration of ATP using creatine phosphate.

Glycolysis

The anaerobic breakdown of glucose to produce energy and lactic acid.

Oxidative fibers

Muscle fibers that use aerobic pathways for energy production.

Glycolytic fibers

Muscle fibers that primarily use anaerobic glycolysis for energy.

Recovery time

Time taken by muscles to recover and restore ATP levels after exercise.

Creatine kinase

An enzyme involved in the direct phosphorylation of ADP to regenerate ATP.

ATP regeneration

The process of forming ATP from ADP through various pathways.

Force generation

Depends on the number of cross bridges attached and factors affecting muscle fiber length.

Prolonged muscle contractions

Can lead to muscle fatigue if the contractions are sustained for too long.

Stimulus frequency

The rate at which nerve impulses are sent to muscle fibers, influencing muscle contraction.

Maximum contraction

The peak level of muscle force production through optimal motor unit recruitment.