Muscular System Lecture Practice Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers anatomy, physiological characteristics, types of muscle tissue, movement mechanics, and common disorders/treatments within the muscular system.

Muscular System Count

There are approximately $630$ muscles in the human body.

Skeletal/Muscular Homeostasis

Both systems work together to support and protect internal organs and provide movement.

Heat Generation

A function of the muscular system where cellular respiration produces heat energy to allow a constant body temperature.

Excitability

The ability of muscle tissue to respond to a stimulus, such as from a motor neuron or hormone.

Contractability

The characteristic of muscle tissue that allows it to shorten when stimulated.

Extensibility

The ability of muscle tissue to lengthen or stretch, even past their original shape.

Elasticity

The ability of muscle tissue to recoil or bounce back to the original shape and length after being stretched.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle tissue attached to bone by tendons that allows for voluntary movement.

Smooth Muscle

Muscle tissue found in the lining of organs that allows for involuntary movement.

Cardiac Muscle

Muscle tissue found only in the heart that allows for involuntary movement.

Tendon

A structure that connects muscle to bone.

Origin

The attachment of a tendon to the more stationary bone.

Insertion

The attachment of a tendon to the more movable bone.

Belly

The middle part of the muscle.

Prime Mover (Agonist)

The muscle doing the action or contracting.

Synergists

Muscles that help a movement in the same direction as the prime mover.

Antagonist

The opposing muscle that relaxes during a motion, such as the triceps brachii when the biceps brachii contracts.

Flexor

A muscle that bends part of your body.

Extensor

A muscle that straightens part of your body.

Resistance Exercise

Activity where people work against the weight of an object to strengthen skeletal muscles.

Aerobic Exercise

Steady, moderately intense activity that strengthens the heart and increases endurance.

Hypertrophy

When muscle fibers increase in size due to weight training.

Atrophy

When muscle fibers decrease in size due to loss of use.

Strain (Pulled Muscle)

An injury where a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn, commonly occurring in the lower back and hamstrings.

Sprain

An injury involving the stretching or tearing of a ligament, most commonly in the ankle.

RICE

The treatment protocol for strains and sprains: Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate.

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of inherited disorders involving muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue that worsen over time.

Muscle Fatigue

A state where $ATP$ is no longer efficiently being used for cross-bridges, often occurring when glucose supply is exhausted during intense exercise.

Anaerobic Respiration

A process where muscles begin to burn, signaling a person to stop exercising before cells are injured.

Oxygen Debt

The difference between the amount of oxygen available and the amount required, resulting in being out of breath.